I know that from growing up in Chicago. If I stand up to him, I die. The huge obstacle I face is that Kyon refuses to let me go. I have to find a way to escape them both. This has never been my fight, not really. I’d been discarded on Earth. Ethar means almost nothing to me, or at least, it never used to—now I’m not so sure. It’s Trey’s home and he’s my home.
“I need you to come and find me,” I whisper, as if my words could change time and space and bring me my heart’s desire.
The snap of a stick nearby makes me bolt to my feet. I reach for a stone on the ground, picking it up in my fist. I glance around, scanning the area for anything that moves. I hear a deep, male rumble of laughter. Winding back, I throw the stone in the direction of it. The rock changes course and veers away as soon as it reaches the entrance of the gazebo. It falls to the ground in the middle of the pavilion. My eyes widen in surprise as a voice says, “You almost hit me.”
“Giffen!” I whisper accusingly, still unable to see him.
“Your intuition is uncanny. Good throw, by the way.”
“Knob knocker!” I spit. “Where are you? Get me out of here!”
“You just got here.”
“Come out of hiding so I can murder you!” I growl.
He instantly appears under the archway of the gazebo. His hand falls away from a small, silver box clipped to the waistband of his black belt. He’s attired in the same type of uniform that I saw the matchstick soldiers of Amster wearing when I projected into their compound last night. He sweeps his light-brown dreadlocks back from his face, then rests his hand on the hilt of a knife holstered on his side. It makes him look dangerous, even when he doesn’t make a move to draw it. I take a step back from him. He notices. His eyes follow mine to his hand on the knife. He moves his hand away from the blade and strokes his beard instead, smoothing the hair that is the darkest side of blond. His green eyes pass over me as if he’s assessing my well-being.
“I’m not here to hurt you, Kricket.”
“Good, because I’ll kill you if you try.”
“You can’t kill me.” It’s not said in a derogatory way—it’s just a statement of fact.
“All I’d need to do is tell Kyon you’re here and you’re a dead man.”
His face contorts in anger. The muscles bulge around his rolled-up shirtsleeves. “Is he your man now?”
“Screw you! How did you even know I was here?”
“The Brotherhood deployed an armada of aircraft. They weren’t hard to detect. I’ve been watching the action on the beach. When it ended, I hung around and watched the house. Then . . . you came out, so I followed you.”
“You knew I was here.”
He shrugs. “I had an idea. You’re our ghost. I told you I’d find you and make contact.”
“You’re wasting your time—I’m not telling you anything until you get me out of here.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not how this works.”
“That’s how it works for me unless you’d like me to let Kyon know you’re here.” I make a move toward the entrance of the gazebo.
He takes a step in front of me to block my way. His jaw clenches as he points at me. “I’d be gone by the time you could make it back to the house.”
I want to scare him. “Don’t forget I know where you live—” No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I am lifted up off the ground and slammed into the stone pillar behind me. He keeps me pinned to the pillar using his telekinetic power. I cough and wheeze, trying to catch my breath as I dangle above the ground.
“Careful, Kricket,” Giffen warns. “The moment I actually believe that you’ll flip on us is the moment you’re truly dead.”
“How did you get past Oscil? The security on this island is extensive; there are sensors everywhere.”
“I’m unique, Kricket. I’ve been using my abilities to obstruct the sensors. They won’t pick up on me unless I allow them to.”
“What do you want?” I gasp. I must have bitten my lip because it throbs and I taste blood in my mouth.
“Information. What can you tell us about the ships we saw amassed around the island?” he asks.
I don’t reply; I just stare at him, hoping somehow