JACKIE:

The flight to Bennu was long and exhausting, especially with Feraz making thinly veiled threats and back-handed quips about me smelling like sewage. It was worth it to be close to protect Grace.

We saw my grandfather Mark again when we disembarked from the plane onto a runway surrounded by jungle. Not knowing who I was, he ignored me.

The air was hot and thick. We trudged through trees that led to a dock where a ferry awaited. The water on Bennu was crystal blue.

Mark, Grace, Feraz and I boarded the ferry as staff tended to our luggage. The boat rocked as Mark’s men in suits added to the weight.

We pushed off for the final leg of the journey.

Feraz asked, “So, this is Bennu Island? How does it feel being back here?”

Grace shrugged, avoiding the question.

Although I’d been to the island many times, I didn’t answer. He wasn’t asking me.

Mark got tears in his eyes, but kept his composure. “My heart feels full when I’m here because her presence is so strong. I still can’t believe B is gone.”

Feraz said, “I’m sorry for your loss, sir.”

Mark smirked. “You should have seen her. She was so radiant and full of life.”

“Until she wasn’t,” Grace added.

Mark put his arm around her shoulders for comfort.

“Until she wasn’t,” he repeated with a bleeding heart.

The island came into view on the horizon. The massive complex overlooking the volcano stood in disrepair, but I was glad to see Bennu was lush, not scorched like previous streams.

“Daddy, this place is a dump. Are you sure it shouldn’t be condemned?”

Feraz saddled up to Mark. “Let me help you clean the place up, sir. We can go through inventory, dispose of outdated equipment, whatever’s helpful, Mr. Claudi.”

“Thank you, Feraz. That’d be nice. Hey, did Grace tell you about the new summer opportunities at my company?”

This piqued my attention. I loved being privy to privileged conversations. Would Feraz do another internship with Mark and if so, what tools of destruction would be at his disposal?

Feraz asked for clarification. “Opportunities at Life Rite?”

“Actually, I have a new endeavor I’m tinkering with. Life Rite is on auto-pilot now. There’s no way to scale the face creams, no matter how good they are.”

“How right you are, sir.” Feraz was such a suck up. “What does your new venture entail, may I ask?”

“Robotics,” Mark answered.

My stomach did a back flip. This had Alpha written all over it. I made it my chief aim to find out more about its status.

“What kind of robotics?” I asked.

Mark looked at me confused. “And who are you?”

“The janitor,” Feraz answered.

I pleaded with my eyes for Grace to introduce us, but she refused to make eye contact with me. Was her loyalty wavering in front of the two most important men in her life?

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

A rope flew overboard as our boat approached the dock.

“Welcome to Camp Claudi,” Mark said.

I looked up and saw none other than Zayne greeting us.

“Welcome to Bennu.”

“Ladies first,” Mark declared.

I did a double take as Zayne helped Grace off the rickety ferry by offering his hand.

“Thanks.” Grace barely glanced Zayne’s way.

He grabbed my hand next.

I whispered, “I appreciate it, Firestorm.”

Zayne didn’t acknowledge the nickname. Instead, he moved to help Mark next. I couldn’t tell if Firestorm was immersed in him or not. Surely he made it to Bennu by now.

I prayed for Firestorm’s help on this increasingly difficult mission. The probabilities stacked against me.

Grace bumped into me and said, “Hey that local boy is cute, don’t you think? Why don’t you make some moves, Jackie? A spring fling could make this trip a whole lot more interesting for you.”

Before I could respond, Feraz joined us. “What are you two whispering about?”

Grace deflected. “Nothing. I can’t believe we’re back here. It’s so hot, isn’t it? Told you, the surface of the sun. Unbearable.”

A mosquito zipped around Grace’s face. She swatted and killed it against her neck. “Ew, gross. Dad, the water heater better be working in the complex! I need a shower.”

Feraz turned his nose up. “So does Jackie.”

Zayne joined us, carrying too many large suitcases.

“Feraz, help this boy put bags in the golf cart,” Grace ordered.

Feraz scoffed. “I’m not the help. Ask the janitor to do it.”

“I am strong. Enjoy your time on Bennu.” Zayne hustled to pack the suitcases onto a golf cart’s trailer hitch. He handled the luggage with ease. As he worked, his tattered shirt exposed a deep scar down the middle of his back. What happened to him?

“You kids go ahead. We’ll take the next one.” Mark and the men in suits stayed behind.

Feraz and I both took a keen interest in Mark and his work associates as Zayne drove us away in the golf cart, toward the complex. Mark pointed at the forest, and the executives nodded in agreement. What were they talking about?

I looked toward where Mark was pointing, and so did Feraz. Grace filed her manicured nails, oblivious to the fact that her two travel companions had schemes in motion.

Camp Claudi was massive, its balcony sitting on the lip of the volcano. As the golf cart got closer, I saw the ghosts of villagers storming the complex, the grounds covered with press to cover the fake headline about Life Rite saving the island from a volcanic eruption, Grace and Zayne’s saga; so much happened here in other lifetimes.

Now, the place looked abandoned. Overgrown weeds covered Beatrice’s castle tower. It was falling apart, brick by brick.

Zayne parked at the steps of the behemoth building. Grace handed him her purse without glancing in his direction.

“Bring the bags to our rooms please. Come on, guys. I’ll show you the living quarters.”

Tinga greeted us at the front door and showed us to our rooms.

Grace told Feraz, “Father didn’t want us to share a bed, but we’re right next to each other. He has his own wing, so no one will be watching.”

Tinga ushered me to my room. “Welcome.”

The room was small, but the bed was comfortable. “Thanks.”

Tinga then took Grace and Feraz down the hall.

“What happened to him? Got stuck in a cheese grater making dinner?” Feraz joked about Tinga’s creepy face scar right in front of him. So rude.

Their voices trailed off.

Suddenly, I was alone. Finally. Time to reassess.

“Firestorm, are you here?” I called out, hoping to connect with my faithful guide.

His voice echoed in my mind. “I’m here, Jackie.”

“Are you… Zayne? He didn’t seem to recognize me.”

“I ripped his shadow away. The dark side, the secrets, Firestorm; I broke away. He’s better off without me…”

I nodded, knowing how hard it was to reconcile the timelines.

“Our connection feels stronger now that we’re on Bennu. You’ve got to help me figure all this out.”

Firestorm laid it out for me. “Here’s what we know. Feraz found Mark’s research and created his own serum. His version appears to be different. When Feraz rebirths, Grace is effected by it. Neither has figured out the slipstream, except for what you showed her.”

“Good recap Firestorm, but I have more questions than answers. How will underground Life Rite serum trigger Alpha’s redistribution program if it doesn’t give access to the slipstream? Not only that, but we found a surveillance camera in Grace’s dorm. Someone’s spying on her. Maybe Feraz or… maybe someone else. I don’t know.”

“Hm. We need eyes on Alpha. I tried to search the complex, but uncovered no clues.”

“I got some intel on that by flying with the humans. Sounds like the Alpha project is early days. Mark’s tinkering and offered Feraz the chance to work on the project. Is that how the redistribution program gets triggered?”

“You’ve uncovered more clues, but don’t underestimate the power of the probabilities, Jackie. I don’t know how it will unfold, but time is running out. Find Alpha. We have to stop it whatever way you slice it. Convince Grace to stop taking Life Rite. I can’t watch her die from that godforsaken serum in another life.”

“Got it. So it’s all on me. Thanks, dad.”

“Jackie, my physical form limits me. Trust me, I’ve done all I can until you need backup.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Responsibility smacked me in the face again. This was a heavy burden to bear, but I was up for the challenge. A phoenix always rises.

“It’s all good. I’ve come this far. The answer will present itself.”

“That’s my girl. You’ve got this.”

I exhaled any doubt and peeked into the empty hallway for clues. Who, or what, was I looking for?