Page 29 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“He totally cheated. He snuck up behind me.” I’m outraged. That garners a few low chuckles from them.
“That’s all part of the game sweetheart. My turn.” Ollie snatches my remote. Here-spawnsas they call it in a completely different area of the map. Within seconds he’s running and shooting everyone with skilled efficiency.He slows, stalking behind someone and pulls the same maneuver that was done to me.“There, got him back for you,” he boasts, and without missing a beat he’s off and running. The screen moves so fast it’s almostdizzying.
I look over my shoulder and spy Dante watching us with a tiny grin tipping his lips.
He crooks his finger, urging me to him. I jostle Oliver a bit when I crawl in front of him, so I don’t block the TV. His eyes drop to me and his hands stop flying over the buttons. I hear the death gurgle I’ve come to recognize from a sniper knife attack.
“Not fair,” he mumbles still watching me. I stand when I’ve cleared the viewing area and move to the opposite side of the sofa, leaving an empty cushion between Dante and me.
This is nice and all; I’ve never really got to just hang out with anyone like this, but I really need to find out what’s going on.Why I feel this bizarre connection to them, and more importantly why I’m craving the feeling they invoke when they touch my skin.
Dante blinks at me slowly, he’s always so quiet. Never saying more than what’s absolutely necessary. Even when we were at the diner, Milo and Ollie did most of the talking.
“It’s getting kind of late,” I utter, hoping they’ll get the hint.
“Where did you move from?” Dante asks, surprising me.
“Michigan,” I respond without thought.
“And before that?”
“Wyoming, why?”
“And before that?”
I take a second to remember. We don’t always change states, sometimes just fromone city to the next.”What does it matter?”
“I’m just trying to figure out some things,” Dante answers innocently.
“Well isn’t that why I’m here? You acted like you knew something about me.”
The noise of the video game cuts off, leaving only the low hum of music behind.
“I’m just trying—” a throat clears interrupting Dante, before he starts again, “We’re just trying to figure how it is you’re here, and seem to be completely in the dark about what we are, and more importantly, what you are.”
I throw my hands in the air.“See, that’s what I’m talking about. How is it you pretend to know me, but apparently you don’t have a clue yourself?” I stand up. Done with this whole thing. The tingles I’ve been feeling can probably be chalked up to regular teenage hormones. There isn’t anything special happening here, just a couple of boys playing with the new girl’s head.“Can you just take me home or drop me off at the diner? I’ll walk from there,” I rush out.
“Laura,” Oliver calls to me.
“What?” My tone should tell him I’m not in the mood to joke around.He takes my hand in his. The strange feeling starts in my palm and moves up my wrist. While I’m looking down at our hands, distracted, Milo comes over and takes my other hand. The feeling intensifies. Making its way over my chest. My breath catches on a gasp. It doesn’t hurt, nothing close to it, but it’s unfamiliar. I look up as Dante approaches from the front. Lifting a hand, he runs his fingers gently over the crest of my cheekbone. When his palm cradles my cheek, everything stops. Time itself seems to stand still.
My heart starts anew with a hard thump in my chest. A metallic taste fills my mouth as my body flushes, sweat dotting my upper lip. A wave of dizziness washes over me. I stumble forward, squeezing Milo and Ollie’s hands on instinct to stay upright. I pant out a breath as hot saliva fills my mouth; I’m seconds away from puking.
“Whoa,” I drop my forehead to Dante’s chest. Waiting for the feeling to subside.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Milo croons several times. His eyes widen when I tilt my face to look over at him.
“What the hell was that?” My voice is a rough whisper, hysteria is edging in.
“He’ll know now,” Dante mutters.
A hand brushes up my back and I realize I’ve glued myself to his front and Milo and Ollie are equally stuck to my sides. I’m completely surrounded. I swallow, confusion making me wary. I back away from them, shaking my hands free. “Who will know now?”
Dante cups my cheek and searches my eyes. “My brother,” he sighs. “He’ll know we found you.”
Eleven
Confused doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. “I don’t understand what’s happening here.”My voice shakes nearly as much as the tremor that starts working its way up my body. Everything feels different. I feel twitchy, on edge, like I’m missing something, or I’m supposed to be someplace I’ve forgotten.
