Chapter 49 — The Third Summit of the End of the World

  She'd even put out a fresh-baked plate of chocolate chip cookies, like always. Without knowing any better, they could have traveled back in time, and this meeting could be taking place a year before… back before everyone's lives fell apart.

  Rachel sighed. "Will they come?"

  "Of course they will, love," said Lily from her chair in the corner. She leaned against the nearby wall with a tired expression. A yawn overtook her, and Lily quickly brought a handkerchief to her mouth to cover it. As she did, the room seemed to warp ever so slightly, but it quickly became stable once Lily opened her eyes again.

  Rachel wasn't quite sure why, but Lily seemed far more tired than usual. She still wasn't sure how to differentiate Lily from her sister—even with a perfect memory, they seemed utterly identical to a ludicrous degree—but she was incredibly grateful for their help. This summit wouldn't be possible without the Laushires, in more than a few ways. Kendra had responded almost immediately when Rachel reached out, and they'd been able to arrange this meeting—even rushed it after seeing the events of Friday night.

  "How did you do it?" asked Rachel.

  "Hm?"

  "The portal." She hesitated, remembering how their world usually functioned. "Unless you don't want to say…"

  "Well, Kenni and I decided we needed a better way to cross the world than unexpected flights," said Lily, blinking as though trying to get something out of her eyes. "It took some assistance, and the knowledge of a few people I won't name, but… well, you've seen the results yourself."

  Indeed Rachel had. She stepped through the wooden door in her hotel room, just as she might have back in Rallsburg so long ago, and found herself inside Kendra's void. It was exactly the same as she remembered.

  "Were you always able to open the doors anywhere you wanted?"

  "No." Lily coughed slightly. "I'm sorry, love. It's difficult enough to hold this together already. We're both quite drained."

  "But…" said Rachel, confused. "She isn't here. Are you both powering the spell somehow even though you're not next to each other?"

  Lily laughed, a quiet reserved sound Rachel hadn't heard in a long time. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I've forgotten to properly introduce myself." She leaned forward and held out a hand. Rachel took it, and found Lily seemed far weaker physically than normal as well as magically. "I'm Kendra's creation."

  "...You're what?"

  So Lily explained, and Rachel was even more confused.

  "How did I never notice?"

  "Well, if you had, we'd have been doing our jobs poorly, wouldn't we?" Lily sat back again and pulled a coat over her shoulders, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor. "Don't fret, love. I'm the same person you've known all along, just… a little different now."

  "...Okay," said Rachel. She glanced at the door. "Did you start bringing them in?"

  "Kenni's doing it right now," said Lily. "I'm just holding this void open."

  "How can you tell?"

  She clenched her teeth a little, and Rachel could hear the sudden strain in her voice. "I can always tell when Kenni's doing something big," she murmured.

  Rachel tensed up. She'd tried to plan it all out, as fast as she could. They'd actually been planning a gathering for several days now. The world was getting crazier by the minute, and the awakened were scattered. They were broken up, confused, and stepping on each others' toes. Nobody was cooperating. Rachel wanted to bring everyone together, try to get the community in order again.

  She was incredibly nervous. It had been so long… would any of them even answer her call anymore? She'd left them, after all. The whole town was destroyed, and though Rachel stopped Jackson… she'd still broken. Will was crippled physically, and she mentally, and neither of them could keep going. So Rachel fled, went north with her parents into hiding. She spoke to no one, she interacted with no one. Jackie was her only company for so long.

  But… Rachel still watched the news. She still visited the website every day. She saw the regular messages from Natalie, from Cinza, from Alden and Hailey and everyone else. Rachel heard their cries for help, their confusion, and her heart tugged back in that direction. Back south, where the rest of the world awaited.

  Cinza was right. Rachel was a leader, through and through, and her people were lost.

  The ritual had finally tipped her hand. When Will told Rachel he was helping direct another magnetic attack, this time on Brian Hendricks, Rachel was apprehensive, but she'd let them decide. But when Rachel heard that it had been deflected by a force even more powerful—by Natalie herself—she knew it was time.

  I promised that little girl I'd come back. I didn't keep that promise, and I abandoned everyone. Now they're fighting each other and casting so much magic they might tear apart the whole forest. We can't let that happen.

  If another huge explosion of magic occurred in Rallsburg, if the world kept tipping toward fear and hatred of magic, then no amount of political maneuvering by Rachel in D.C. would save them.

  The first person walked in the door. Rachel had chosen the order very carefully, and she knew she wanted him to be first. It wouldn't be right without the two of them coordinating.

  "Hi, Josh," she said, rising from her chair at the council table.

  Josh stopped in the doorway to the portable classroom, with a black void filling the whole space behind him. As soon as he spotted Rachel, he shook his head in dismay.

  "Figures."

  Rachel deflated a little. She'd been excited to see him, but all the casual, cool-headed attitude she'd wanted to balance her out was gone. Josh was anxious, venomous, harsh… and so much more focused than he used to be, back when they held council together.

  "So what's this about?" he asked. He pointedly took a seat against the wall, instead of up at the council table as she'd intended.

  Rachel tried to deflect as quickly as she could, though disappointment was already pooling in her stomach like a heavy weight. "It's about making sure we don't get each other killed, and getting us back on track toward making the world a better place."

  "Uh-huh." Josh crossed his legs, a dark look filling his eyes. "Hey, Lily. Glad you're all right."

  "Thank you," said Lily, her eyes still closed.

  "Kenni doing better?"

  "Much better. She is creating the portals."

  "Cool shit." Josh leaned back as well and closed his eyes.

  "...Are you okay?" asked Rachel nervously.

  Josh shook his head, still not opening his eyes. "Hell no. I was just in a warzone, Rachel. I fucking walked back into it, too. Me and Natalie were hunting down her dad's guys. Guess Jackson left all sorts of shit in the forest, and they're using it to hide out. So yeah, I'm tired as fuck, and I've been shot at way too much in the last twenty-four hours."

  Rachel briefly thought about offering him a cookie, but realized how obtuse she'd seem. Josh didn't want a cookie, he wanted a week of sleep.

  "I checked your parents," she said, trying to offer some good news. "They're—"

  "They're fine, and they haven't been fucked by the press yet," said Josh, in the same even, exhausted tone, with his eyes still closed. "I check on them every day, Rachel. Every day."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She winced, realizing what he really meant. "Did you ever reach out?"

  "Nope."

  "...I'm sorry," she said quietly.

  "Yeah, whatever." Josh finally opened his eyes, glancing at the door. "Who all's coming?"

  "Only who needs to," said Rachel. "We need to get everyone on the same page. Whether that's killing Brian or not, I don't know, but we can't keep doing this."

  "Well, I'm with you there." Josh shut his eyes again. "Wake me up when it's time. I didn't sleep at all last night."

  "...Okay," said Rachel. She hesitated again, already feeling her whole plan slipping away again. "I missed you," she murmured, too low for Josh to hear.

  Lily seemed to realize it was time, because the next person arrived only a minute later—or rather, a pair of them.

  "Still hate this damn place," Jackie muttered as she walked in, Jeremy only a few steps behind. "Hey, Rachel." She took a seat without much fanfare. Rachel wanted them next—both had seen her far more recently, after all, and Jackie was always on her side, even through her months in hiding.

  "The fuck did you call this again?" asked Jeremy.

  She shrugged. "Ask the Brit, I don't know what to call this thing."

  "A pocket dimension," said Lily from the corner. She opened her eyes. "Hello again, Agent Ashe."

  "Hi yourself," said Jeremy. He took a seat with Jackie—pointedly ignoring Rachel entirely.

  Why would he be… does he know I suggested to Maddie that we give up on Hailey? Did Cinza tell him? I know they were friends, but Jeremy ought to be… I've screwed up again.

  Boris and Neffie Bowman arrived next. They greeted Rachel much more warmly, but there wasn't time for small talk anymore. Rachel wanted to get as many in as possible before they actually opened conversation. If anyone left, they'd lose the sense of unity and community she needed to build if they were ever going to stick together.

  "Welcome back," said a familiar echoing voice.

  Rachel turned to the door. Cinza, in full silvery-grey regalia, smiled up at her. She, too, looked exhausted, but nonetheless pleased to be there. Makoto and Ruby flanked her, Ruby seeming in awe of Rachel, and Hector followed them in with his usual nervous tics.

  "Thank you," said Rachel, though she saw Josh roll his eyes out of her peripheral vision.

  She had her power base now. Everyone in the room so far were people she considered to be strong allies. Josh and Jeremy were a bit less warm than usual, but she could count on support from everyone else. Neffie had always looked up to her, while Boris had stayed loyal through international manhunts. Cinza and her followers admired her, and though Rachel didn't like the idea of abusing their trust, she knew she could count on them through nearly anything.

  It was time for the other, more volatile elements of the summit.

  Rika walked in, wearing clothes clearly not meant for her. She winked at Rachel. "About damn time," she snorted. She immediately walked over and gave Rachel a hug, sending shocks buzzing through her skin. Rachel was taken aback—she hadn't expected affection from Rika of all people. "How's Andrea?"

  "...Good," said Rachel, still winded recovering from the sudden burst of electricity through her whole body. "Mom misses you. She texts me every single time there's an update about your case."

  "Huh." Rika glanced over her shoulder, where Hailey was just walking in. "Well, thanks for getting us a day pass out of prison. Coulda gotten me some clothes too, you know."

  "I didn't get her those," said Rachel, a little confused herself.

  "...Must be the damn superhero thing," Rika muttered. "So what's the plan?"

  "Get everyone to stop being stupid," Rachel said, quietly enough that no one would overhear. The rest of the room was talking now, albeit in low voices. Josh and Lily both seemed to be asleep, though Rachel knew she obviously wasn't, or they'd have been crushed by the collapsing void.

  "Uh-huh." Rika grabbed up a few of her cookies and tossed one in her mouth whole. "I still make better cookies than you," she added, licking her lips.

  "I know."

  "So long as you don't forget," said Rika with a smirk. She walked over and took a seat next to Hailey. "Convict row here, eh?"

  Hailey shook her head. "Neither of us are going to be convicted."

  "You might get off," said Rika. "I'm not holding my breath."

  The room suddenly got very quiet. Rachel turned, though she already knew why—but even so, she couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

  Natalie walked in. Her face was scarred, eyes vivid purple, ears pointing through a curtain of dark hair, with Percy on her shoulder. She wore a simple, elegant black dress, which had been torn in several places. Rachel recognized it immediately. Lily let out a quiet gasp from the corner—it was the dress they'd given her, which she'd worn to Jenny's memorial, and ended up wearing throughout the fall of Rallsburg. Natalie looked… intense.

  She took a seat alone, right at the back of the room against the back wall, where she could see everyone easily. Percy glared at everyone with a hawk's terrifying eye, making it very clear nobody should approach her.

  She hadn't said a word to Rachel, hadn't even given her a second glance.

  Neffie looked just as shocked, but no one else in the room seemed even surprised. This wasn't a new development. How had Rachel not heard about her? She'd noticed Natalie stopped sending her messages, and heard she'd been in some trouble, but… this?

  Rachel had to talk to her afterwards, if she could. Something was very wrong… but she didn't have time. The next group was already arriving, as Maddie and Courtney Ashe came in. This caused a stir. After all, everyone else had been part of the last Summit. They'd all faced Jackson together, except for Jeremy, but he had been so integrated into every circle, he felt like part of their disjointed family.

  His siblings… not so much.

  Rachel needed someone from the wider political world though. The group needed perspective. Rachel had considered inviting Wesley Gatiss, maybe even the President himself, but the Ashe siblings seemed a reasonable compromise.

  They introduced themselves nervously. Both seemed unsteady on their feet. Jeremy leapt up and hurried to help his sisters to seats, Jackie right behind him. The whole void wobbled as they did, sending another wave of panic through the two officers of the law.

  Rachel glanced at Lily. She shook her head.

  "It's fine, love. Just a bit of strain. Kenni lost her support for a moment."

  "Her support?" asked Rachel. "Someone is helping her cast the portals?"

  "...A certain someone who has other frequent duties."

  Beverly, Rachel concluded. She's helping create the portals, and taught them the long-range casting technique. There's no way Kendra could manage these, and definitely not on her own while also supporting Lily and this void.

  ...How strong are the Laushires?

  Alden and Ryan came in next, and Rachel half-expected to see Beverly appear from nowhere to keep her brother away. She'd invited him as a good-luck charm, in a way. After all, he'd been the reason they'd stopped Jackson, in more ways than one. Without him, she'd never have managed it. Rachel hoped he'd still be on her side through anything, as he had been that day.

  Worst case, she could still use him as blackmail.

  Ryan, meanwhile, swaggered around like usual—but there was something more reserved to his movements. He seemed thrown off balance, like so many of the others. Something had changed in everyone… Rachel included.

  She took a deep breath. It was time for the most risky invites.

  "Hello everyone," she said, rising to her feet and towering over the whole room. "Before we get started, there's two more people coming. I want to ask you… please… to keep this a neutral place."

  "...The fuck does that mean?" asked Jeremy suspiciously.

  "It means she's invited somebody you'd probably want to kill," said Rika. "So don't fucking kill him." Rika glanced at Rachel knowingly. "Viper, right?"

  Rachel nodded.

  "Incredible," murmured Cinza, though her companions didn't seem nearly as excited. "The portals can cross oceans?"

  "Why the fuck didn't we use one?" asked Jeremy.

  "I only invented them yesterday," said Lily, finally opening her eyes again. "And this is not easy to maintain, so please, let's remain civil."

  "I'll remain civil," snapped Ryan, suddenly on his feet and staring at the doorway. "After I fucking kill that bastard."

  The whole group turned as one. Viper stood in the doorway—with two good arms now, though still as rough and gravelly as he'd always been.

  "We need him," said Rachel.

  "...Why?" asked Hailey incredulously, on her feet now as well. "You know… you know what he did, right?"

  "A whole fuckton of stupid shit," said Viper, before anyone else could answer. "And I done a whole fuckton before I met any of you. That ain't why I took this invite."

  "So why are you here?" asked Neffie, jumping in before anyone could respond.

  "'Cause my boss fucked some of you over and I'm tryin' to undo it." Viper shrugged. "I'm probably goin' to jail rest of my life, but if I can do some fuckin' good before I get there, might as well try."

  Rachel scanned the room. Hailey seemed taken aback by his frank admission, but both Rika and Ryan practically radiated hostility. The rest of the room was either angry or completely confused—after all, the Ashe siblings hadn't a clue who Viper was. Natalie, meanwhile, seemed oddly sympathetic, but who knew what the girl was thinking anymore?

  No one was leaving yet. As long as they stayed, Rachel could deal with some open hostility for a while. The next, and final person, to walk in would be the hardest test. She had lined him up last to deflect from Viper, since he was more familiar, and hopefully more sympathetic.

  As soon as Nate walked in, Rachel wondered if she had been too optimistic.

  The door slammed open into the wall behind him. Cinza was on her feet, Ruby and Makoto a split-second behind.

  "Leave now, or I will kill you," said Cinza very calmly, her voice echoing through the frozen room. Fire erupted in Ruby's hand, and even her eyes seemed aflame with sheer rage.

  "She invited me," said Nate, his voice very small. He pointed a shaking finger at Rachel. Cinza didn't respond, eyes still locked on his every movement. "Isn't she still the leader?"

  "Good question," muttered Josh from the side of the room.

  "Didn't you all elect her?" asked Courtney. "That's how I understood it. She's the last Councilor before the town fell."

  "The two of us, and her term's over, Governor." Josh sighed. "Good to meet you, by the way. I'm the only real member of the Council left."

  "The Council broke up," said Ryan. "Far as I'm concerned, Rachel's still up top."

  Thank you, Ryan. Could have been timed better, so it didn't sound like you were arguing with Josh again, but… thanks.

  "Did you invite him?" Cinza asked, turning to Rachel.

  She nodded. "He's here so we can talk about the lawsuit, and everything else he's done."

  After a full minute, Cinza finally—with great reluctance and a death-glare locked on Nate—dropped into her seat. Makoto followed suit immediately, and Ruby after a few more seconds of radiating disgust so tangible Rachel felt a little ill. Nate reluctantly took the seat nearest the door.

  "Is there anyone else?" asked Boris.

  Rachel shook her head. She sat back down at the front table, smoothing out her dress, and took a deep breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the chairs move just slightly, and knew Beverly must be there as well. Rachel half-expected her waspy voice to whisper again, just as she had back in May.

  "Let's get started."