JACKIE:

"I've lost her already! Where did Grace go?"

Firestorm didn’t answer, so I looked around for clues as I meandered through Hampshire University. A sign on the wall told me that I was in the science wing. Baxter said Grace was in a science club, so I looked in each door, one by one.

“Sorry, wrong class,” I told one teacher after another when a quick scan of each room didn’t reveal my mom.

“She’s got to be around here somewhere.”

At the end of the hall, I opened a door marked ‘Laboratory.’

Bingo! Grace sat at a long table in the otherwise empty room, with her back to the door.

“Hello?”

She quickly zipped her purse like she was hiding something.

“Room’s booked!”

“Hey, are you Grace Claudi?”

Of course I knew it was her, but I couldn’t think of anything better to say. I don’t do well on the fly.

She turned to me. Her dark under-eye circles were miraculously gone. She looked fresh and well-rested, vibrant even.

“Yeah, I’m Grace. Who are you?”

“I’m Jackie. Have we met before? You look really familiar.”

Grace pointed at my janitor jumpsuit. “Do you work with Baxter?”

“Yes! Baxter’s my Pops.”

Grace looked surprised. “Really? I didn’t know Baxter had a daughter.”

“You know Baxter? Small world! I’m… just visiting. My luggage didn’t arrive, so I’m rocking the janitor look today.” I struck a pose like a super model.

Luckily, my mom laughed. “How fashionable. So what brings you to the lab?”

“I thought I’d check out your science club.”

“Science club? What are you, twelve?” Grace rolled her eyes.

“Baxter mentioned the club to me. He thought we might have a lot in common. I’m a bit of a science geek myself. Can I join you?”

Grace held the book Feraz gave her close to her chest. “I’m surprised Baxter would mention it. It’s a private thing.”

“Trust is the glue that holds families together.”

Grace softened.

I wondered if she noticed our similar features. She and I looked related, of course. We were mother and daughter, but oddly the same age; eighteen and brimming with untapped potential.

I pointed to her book, a vintage copy of Frankenstein. “Hey, I have that one. Same edition and everything,” I lied.

Grace’s eyes lit up. She spoke fast, like she took an upper. “Really? It’s my favorite. I’ve read it a million times. I hate how modern versions drop the subtitle. The Modern Prometheus. Like the greek god, punished for giving man the knowledge of fire. Prometheus was chained to a rock for the rest of eternity. Every day a vulture ate his liver, just to regenerate and do it all over the next day. Can you imagine?”

“Oddly, I can relate.” I didn’t mention the fact that rebirthing feels like getting eaten by a vulture, but my openness to her rambling seemed to grab Grace’s attention, so I continued.

“It’s like, every day we wake up just to go through the same struggles as the day before.”

Grace got a faraway look in her eyes as she said, “Playing the role everyone expects from us.”

“Exactly.” I lightly touched her hand to let her know I cared. I wanted to hug my mom, but playing it cool seemed like a smarter move.

She pulled away.

We sat in an awkward silence. I ran my hand through the red streak in my blue hair.

“Cool hair by the way,” Grace offered.

“Thanks. It’s natural.”

“Really?” Grace smiled. “My science club isn’t open to new members, but I can give you something nicer to wear until your suitcase arrives.”

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“That’d be awesome.”

Yes, I was in!

“My apartment’s not too far away.”

Like a lost puppy, I followed Grace out of the room, through the hallways, and outside.

We walked across the elegant campus, over to Grace’s dorm room, laughing like best friends the whole way. It was easy connecting with a familiar face.

“So you’re into science?” I asked. “What are you studying?”

Grace spoke with excitement. “Ecology. After I graduate, my father will let me run the Life Rite Institute.”

“What does the Institute do?” I asked, playing dumb, although I never found out what the Institute did exactly. Asking innocent questions was the perfect way to gather information about this timeline.

“They’re studying the Grid over at the Institute. I’m fascinated by it. Why aren’t more people asking the big questions like, why is the Grid there and what does it do?”

“And what is it made of? We know so little about it.”

Grace grabbed my arm. “Yes! See, you get it.”

I repeated an old wife’s tale to test Grace’s reaction. “I heard the Grid was made of diamonds.”

“My dad wishes… But whatever it is, it’s worth knowing. That’s how I convinced him to start the Institute. He believes in human progress.”

“Impressive.”

“Father invented the Universal DNA Identifier, but once I’m in charge of the Institute, I’ll blow him out of the water.”

“No doubt. Will you tell me what you find out about the Grid?”

“I plan to publish papers so everyone will have access to whatever we find out, no matter what the answer may be. We all deserve to know the truth.”

“We sure do.” I looked up at the red laser Grid covering the sky. Its presence made this probability feel just like the last.

Grace kicked a stone as she walked. “If people even care, that is. Everyone seems oblivious, like they have blinders on to any higher truths.”

“I think most people are struggling to survive, so they don’t have time to stop and ponder life’s big mysteries.”

Grace tensed. “Sure… Of course. What I meant to say is… When I said my dad is going to let me run the Institute… He’ll give me an entry level position after graduation. Then he’ll make me earn every promotion. He’s not going to hand it over to me. I’m going to have to work hard, just like anyone else.”

“Of course, I didn’t mean to imply… Understood.” I needed to tread lightly to meet Grace where she was in this timeline. Privileged, but with good intentions, from the sound of it.

“I’m so passionate about investigating the Grid, so yeah, I’m confident I’ll be running that place someday.”

“Like a boss. Good for you, Grace.”

She smiled at my encouragement. “Thanks, Jackie. Here’s my place.”

We bound up a winding staircase covered in ivy. Grace unlocked her dorm.

Inside, the one bedroom, one bath, looked like a sales catalogue. Every pillow perfectly placed.

“Wow, nice place.”

“Alright, let’s get you out of that wretched uniform. No offense to Baxter, but it’s not a good look.”

“I really appreciate your help with this. It’s kind of you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ve been meaning to purge my wardrobe, anyway. My dressers are out of control. The Grid is my first passion, but shopping may be my second.”

As Grace dug through her closet, I noticed a pile of burned clothes on top of a hamper and picked them up.

“What happened to these?”

“Science club experiments gone wrong.” Grace threw me a T-shirt and jeans. “Try these.”

“Thanks. Hey, can I borrow some underwear too? Sorry if that’s weird.”

We both laughed, and she threw me a pair.

“Keep ‘em. Do you need socks and shoes too? Those dusty sneakers have to go.” Grace shuddered. “How can you even walk in those? They look way too big for you.”

“Yes, please. Although I kind of like walking like Frankenstein.” I put my arms out and walked like a zombie, which scored another laugh.

Grace grabbed socks and sneakers for me, too.

“Seriously, this is too kind.” I dressed quickly, but the jeans didn’t fit well.

“That won’t do. Any friend of mine needs to look good. Stephanie will be so jealous I didn’t invite her to hang with us. Let me see what else I’ve got.”

Hearing her call me a friend made me smile. I was on the right track, off to the races. Surely I’d heal this probability and be on to the next one in no time, right?

Grace had a ton of clothes and jewelry. Her shoes and purses took up an entire section of her opulent closet.

I caressed a silk gown hanging from a wood hanger and touched a gold hair pin. The beauty of nice things used to make me drool. After living like a Claudi in my previous timeline, their luster no longer had the same effect on me because I knew the true cost of such things. It’s one thing to have treats, but another to have endless desires and expectations.

Grace searched through a pile of pants on the top shelf. An overweight box shuffled and fell, smacking my mom on the head.

“Ah!”

“Mom! I mean, mama mia! Are you okay?”

The box gashed Grace’s forehead. A small trail of blood streamed down her face.

“I’m sure it’s fine.” She entered the adjoining bathroom, leaving the door open a crack.

I slid on another pair of pants and crept toward the bathroom door. Grace’s reflection in the mirror caught me by surprise. The blood on her face caught on fire! Her cut healed instantly.

“She’s a gene carrier,” I whispered in shock.

Grace turned around and found me spying. “What did you say?”

This was my moment. I had to go for it.

“What do you know about the phoenix gene?” I asked.

“What’s that? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“But you can heal yourself?”

“No, I can’t.” Grace crossed her arms and nodded toward the door. “Maybe you should go. Keep the clothes as long as you need.”

“I thought we were going to hang. Make Stephanie jealous?”

Grace shook her head. “It’s nap time. I’ve had bad cramps all day.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Time to leave, Jackie. Thanks for stopping by.”

I needed Grace to let me into her life quickly. We already felt like fast friends, but real trust takes time to build. What could I say without scaring her off?

“If you trust Baxter, then you can trust me, too.” My voice wavered. I was grasping at straws.

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Suspicion arose in my mom’s eyes as she marched me toward the front door.

“I’m super trustworthy. I swear.”

“I’m sure, but like I said, my cramps.” She put her hands on her lower abdomen.

Did my entrance into this probability cause her pain or was she making excuses to get rid of me?

“Can’t you magically heal that, too? I legit saw you heal that cut on your forehead. Look, it’s gone.”

She touched her head where the gash was moments ago. “It wasn’t bad to begin with. Nothing a splash of water can’t fix.”

“I know what I saw. You have the power to heal, don’t you?”

Grace opened the front door. “Don’t be delusional. Goodbye Jackie.”

I swear she healed herself, but how? What was Grace hiding? Could I convince her not only to let me stay but also to tell me all her deep, dark secrets?