Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer Page B

what to say around her. Usually people find her silence comforting—a means to say whatever they want without interruption. Everyone on the Cosmos filled the silence, especially Landon. He said that for people not to talk with her would only place more anxiety on her, but she honestly doesn’t care either way. It isn’t like she’s ever going to talk again. I wonder what my voice would sound like anyway? she wonders as she throws a stick into the fire. Sparks rise into the air in a flutter, agitated by the intruder.
    “ So,” Jaden says uncertainly, finally breaking the growing silence, “if you can’t talk, guess I’ll have to fill the silence.”
    Summer smiles at her encouragingly.
    “ You know, my family was poor back in the states, but then my brother hit the jackpot.”
    She raises her eyebrows, asking her what “jackpot” means.
    Jaden’s eyes sparkle, reflecting the ambitious fire. “It means he won a ton of money. Anyway, my mother decided it’d be fun to go to Britain. I was young and had recently watched this cartoon with a prince who had an English accent. I thought I’d meet him. The rest of my family groaned, but I jumped at the opportunity to leave the reservation—back in Arizona.”
    Again, Summer looks at her questioningly.
    “ Oh! Yeah, my family is descended from the Native Americans. I’m part of the Hopi Tribe. Get this—my last name is Redleaf. Silly, isn’t it?” says Jaden with a laugh.
    Summer shakes her head no. She actually likes it a lot compared to her last name: Waverly. Not that she doesn’t love her name, but it’s not as colorful—pun intended.
    “ Yeah?”
    She nods with a warm smile.
    “ Yeah, okay. I like it too. I’m not quite sure how I got lost, but I did on our last day there. I swear I saw that prince in the crowd and next thing I know I’m being led away by someone telling me they’ll help me find my ‘mum.’ At first I laughed at them saying ‘mum’ instead of mom. But then I ended up in that house.” She visibly shudders at the thought and so does Summer.
    Jaden takes a deep breath before she continues, her eyes mesmerized by the dancing fire. “I was sold to this man who made me do the most horrific things imaginable. Then every night he’d reward me with gifts. On the outside you’d think I was living the good life, but he was horrible to me. I think he got off on torture.” There is no more explanation, and none is needed. They both know.
    Summer reaches out and takes her hand, her eyes conveying every last bit of apology she can. Jaden looks up with tears in her eyes and holds her arms out. They both hug and cry; several of the tears are for the past, but many of them are for the future. They’re free now—no more slavery. The image in Summer’s mind is so intoxicating she can’t help but imagine all the things she’ll do.
    Maybe I’ll go to high school and meet a faerie or vampire , she thinks excitedly, but the picture is devoid of Landon.
    When they separate, Summer searches the empty ocean for her missing best friend. “Hey, we’ll find him,” Jaden comforts.
    She hopes Jaden’s right—after four years of him being there almost every second of every day it can’t just end like this. Preferably it’ll never end.
    That night they sleep under the dazzling stars, and the shining, flirtatious moon, but there is something brighter in their midst. Summer springs forward from her sleeping position, gasping for air. She’s not sure what’s happening, but her heart is exploding in her chest, and her body is vibrating with an urgency to do . . . something. Jaden rises and looks around the beach for what’s bothering Summer. Summer can’t catch her breath, and she starts to gasp and choke for any air she can swallow. Jaden’s frantically saying something, but Summer can’t hear—she’s starting to lose her senses. Her skin begins to glow like the burning wood at the bottom of the fire, and they both go wide-eyed. Their eyes