“So you’re saying Enoch spoke the same language as me?” Damon asked, pushing the book he’d been browsing aside. It joined the heaping pile on top of Jared Hawkins’s desk.
Spending most of the hot days indoors, Micah had told his parents he was helping Damon study to pass school. He felt bad lying, but needed some excuse for why they poured over books, while the pool remained unused.
Micah planned to tell his parents everything soon. So far, they were ok with things. He wasn’t sure if they’d be so amiable if they knew their son’s life could be in serious danger.
“Yeah,” Micah replied.
“He could command the elements, speak to the earth, and it obeyed?”
“Yep, at least we think so. I read in one account that Enoch felt he was slow of speech before and then, because he was so righteous, God gave him this gift. It says he moved mountains with his words. Your gift’s pretty rare, Damon. The Captain doesn’t give it to just anyone. We’re pretty sure Enoch was the first Seer too.”
Damon whistled. “So he had both of our gifts.”
Micah drummed his thumb against the book he held. “So it’s going to take both of us to get into Enoch’s temple and through the nine chambers.”
Damon was nodding when he disappeared. Micah recognized the cornfields and knew he was receiving another vision about the underground temple. He felt his pulse quicken. He hoped he could skip over certain parts of this vision. He didn’t want to make a scene in front of Damon, grabbing at his chest and crying out in agony. Trent hadn’t responded well the last time that had happened.
He was relieved to see his body moving through the chambers instead. Oh good, we’re already inside. He expected to see himself leading the group through the small opening in the floor but, instead, it was Trent standing in front and explaining things. After a few minutes, Micah realized he wasn’t really with his group of friends, but more in the background with the angels, watching. One look at Sage’s forlorn face and he shuddered.
He snapped back to his dad’s study.
“What?” Trent’s voice demanded. Micah’s eyes were still shut. “What happened?”
Micah felt a hand on his shoulder and pushed his lids open. He was panting, covered in sweat. Trent stood over him, concern written all over his face.
In the chair next to him, Damon leaned closer and asked, “Vision?”
Micah nodded.
“About what, the temple?” Trent asked.
Micah glanced down at his shirt; it clung to his chest with sweat. He nodded again. “Something’s changed.”
Trent waited for more but Micah wasn’t about to admit what he now knew. Trent already wanted to pull the plug on the whole thing. There was a lead weight on his chest; it was a struggle just to get air in. Luckily for him, Micah knew Trent would misread it for vision exhaustion.
But I know the truth. I don’t make it into the temple, at least not as a mortal.
Damon didn’t stay too much longer, and Micah told Trent he was going to bed early, tired from the day. Trent eyed him walk away but said nothing.
Collapsing on his bed, he groaned loudly, “Sage, what happened?” He sat up. “Am I going to die now?”
Sage was next to him instantly, her black eyes creased with worry. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her fingers sending a calm rushing through him.
“I don’t know. I think it has to do with Eden and Andrew,” she said. Her tone was soft, but Micah could tell she was concerned by the way her black eyes clouded over.
“They broke up, didn’t they?” he asked, already guessing the answer. Makes sense—Andrew won’t come on the trip and my gaping wounds won’t be healed. Hence, I die.
“Yes,” Sage said quietly, as if she was answering his thoughts too.
“Is there nothing I can do? That’s that, then?” He was trying to conceal the panic in his voice. He was failing.
Sage’s hand was on his shoulder again.
Then he was riding in the back of Andrew’s Bronco, radio blasting. It was night, making it hard to see where they were going. Raindrops splattered against the windows, as the tires splashed through puddles. Knowing a summer storm had rolled through that night, Micah assumed he was in the present, seeing something happening now. Andrew slowed at a curb in front of a red brick house Micah didn’t recognize. He waited, watching Andrew’s moves.
He whipped out his cell phone, shooting off text messages.
Micah leaned over the back seat, pressing his face close to read.
R u awake?
Andrew’s phone buzzed back. Yeah.
R u making out w/ Dave?
No, he didn’t come over after basketball. Why?
Andrew waited a moment and then typed. Eden broke up w/ me.
That sucks. R u ok?
Think so. I’m @ ur house. Can u come out?
In PJ’s, do u care?
No, get ur butt out here.
Micah sat back. So, it was Eden who did the breaking up.
A few minutes later, Caitlyn emerged from the home, and jogged through the drizzle toward them. Andrew leaned across the front seat and opened the door for her. She hopped in, wearing flannel pants and an oversized hoodie.
Now Micah was curious.
“Are you ok?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest, eyeing Andrew.
He blew air out. “Yeah, I’ll be ok. I just didn’t see it coming. Think I’m still a little shocked.”
“I’m sorry, Andrew.”
Andrew cleared his throat. “I don’t really want to talk about it. I have a question for you.”
She gazed back at him and waited.
“The night of prom, when I found Eden on the ground,” he hesitated. Micah could see it pained Andrew to talk about it. “I tried to heal her, but it was going too slow and it was really hard, like I was trying to push through something. Then you show up and she starts healing. What did you do?”
“I told you I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who healed her.”
“But I felt something when you touched me. Can you heal too?”
How interesting. Micah was curious as to what Caitlyn’s gift was. Up to this point, he’d never had a vision of her other than the time Eden awakened her.
Caitlyn laughed. “Last I checked, no.” She placed her left foot on the seat, pulling her pant leg up to reveal a nasty cut and bruise on her shin.
“Ouch,” Andrew commented.
“Yeah, did this yesterday. You know me, can’t walk straight to save my life. I tripped in our garage and landed on my brother’s bike.” Caitlyn raised her hand, and then laid it across her shin. After a few seconds, she lifted her hand back up. “So I guess we know for sure now.” The cut remained.
Without hesitation, Andrew placed his hand on her leg. After a moment, he removed it and Caitlyn gasped. “Wow! That’s really amazing. Thanks.” She ran her hand over her skin.
“No problem. So, what did you do?” he asked again.
“I told you, I didn’t do anything.” She lowered her leg.
“Ok, tell me exactly what happened that night. Tell me what you did, thought, everything.”
Micah was glad Andrew was asking the very questions he wanted answered too.
Caitlyn semi-rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll humor you, Andrew, but I hope you’re not disappointed when you realize I’m just a regular girl, not some super hero like you. I followed you into the woods, and I saw you with Eden, so I ran up to see what was going on. And that’s when I saw all the blood and you putting your hands on her. I wasn’t sure what was happening, so I leaned in and realized you were actually healing her. I was pretty shocked. And then you were crying out something like, Eden, no. I don’t remember exactly, but I realized she might be dying then. I remember thinking, Eden can’t die. She just can’t. Andrew can heal her—I know he can. That’s when I grabbed your shoulder. I wanted you to know you weren’t alone, but you never turned around until I spoke to you.”
So then what
happened? Micah wondered. Why was it when Caitlyn thought he could heal her in time, he did?
“Sorry to disappoint,” she said, when he remained quiet.
“You didn’t. I’m just thinking.” Andrew stared at his steering wheel. “I wonder if it had to do with what you were thinking.” He glanced at her. “I know it sounds crazy,” he added, when Caitlyn gave him the full eye roll this time. “But I can heal people. Isn’t that crazy too?”
She stopped making faces at him. “I guess you’ve got a point there. So you’re saying that when I think or say something, it happens?”
Seriously? Micah gaped at Caitlyn. Can she really have that gift? Funny it hasn’t even manifested itself. She has no idea she even has it. Then again, it is subtle, even if it’s arguably one of the most powerful ones of them all, next to Damon’s.
Andrew nodded. “Maybe. What’s something else have you thought lately? Maybe we can do a test.”
Caitlyn was quiet for a moment and then she began biting her lower lip, her eyebrows lowering.
“You thought of something, didn’t you? What is it? I know you’re upset; you’re biting your lip.”
“I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
“Tell me.”
“Ok, don’t hate me. I didn’t know.” She bit her lip again. “Eden told me how she was feeling.” When she peeked at him again, he nodded for her to continue. “She was upset because she didn’t feel she was being honest with you and stuff. And I,” again she gnawed at her lip, “I told her to talk to you. I told her if she did, it’d all work out as it should.”
She glanced at him and visibly flinched. Andrew just stared at her.
Micah gasped. What? It’s going to work out as it should? I’m supposed to die…
Caitlyn, still wide-eyed, watched Andrew.
“I’m not mad at you, so stop staring at me like I’m going to hit you or something. You’re creeping me out,” Andrew said to her.
Caitlyn’s words rushed out, “I didn’t tell Eden to break up with you, I swear. I’m sorry if I somehow caused this to happen.”
“You didn’t. This isn’t your fault, Caitlyn. You know, when Eden told me we were done, she kind of alluded to it being the right thing. I was mad because how can the right thing feel so terrible, but now…” He glanced at her. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s right.”
Caitlyn sounded remorseful. “I’m so sorry, Andrew.”
She wrapped her hoodie around her body, hugging herself. Andrew sighed, “Caitlyn, stop feeling bad. You know, this has been good for me actually. I feel ok.”
Poor dude, lying to make her feel better, Micah thought.
Caitlyn glanced over at him. It was quiet for a moment. “Are you going to go still, to Chicago, I mean?” she asked, breaking the silence.
Took the words right out of my mouth, Caitlyn.
“No, I don’t think so.”
The words hung in the air, Micah cringing at their implications.
Caitlyn gazed at Andrew and then said, “I should probably go back in. I didn’t tell my parents I left, and they might freak when they discover I’m not in my room.”
“Yeah, they will. Hey, thanks, Caitlyn.” He leaned over to hug her.
Micah didn’t miss her hesitation. The hug was quick, and then she grabbed the door handle. Not facing Andrew, she mumbled, “I think you should come still.”
“Why?”
She turned around. “I just have this feeling that it’ll all work out if you do.”
There was tension and then Andrew snorted. “It’ll all work out, huh? I think you’re trying to use your Jedi mind tricks on me.”
Caitlyn’s face flushed. “This means I’m crazy, doesn’t it?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Welcome to the super hero club,” Andrew said sarcastically.
“Awesome, when do I get my cape?”
“I don’t know, but I’d love to see you in spandex.”
She slugged his shoulder. “If I have to wear it, so do you. So be prepared to look like your underwear’s on the outside of your pants.”
Andrew laughed loudly. “No way, that only looks good on girls.”
Undeterred, Caitlyn continued, “I can see it now—a big D on the front for Doctor Drew, the Healer.”
“Oh yeah, you think that’s funny, don’t you? You’d have a Y then, for Yoda.” He paused, “You sort of look like him, you know.”
Caitlyn giggled. “Nice, I like it.”
Micah folded his arms across his chest, wondering why he still remained in this vision. Not only did he not care to watch two people flirt, he felt like he’d learned what he was supposed to, and he wasn’t really in the mood to watch playful banter.
I only have a death sentence hanging over my head.
Then it dawned on him. They don’t even realize they’re flirting. They think they’re just friends. Man, is it this obvious to everyone else with Eden and me?
Caitlyn sighed. “I better get back.” She opened the door and gave him one last, questioning glance. “So, Chicago?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, probably not.”
Micah returned to his bed; Sage was gone now. He knew sleep was out of the question. He had too much to sort through. He debated waking Trent but decided against it. Trent would want to drive straight over to Eden’s and demand she get back with Andrew.
Micah sat at the edge of his bed. That’s an idea. As much as he hated it, he had to consider it might work.
He wanted someone to talk to but, for some reason, he didn’t call Sage back. This felt like something he had to work through. Or Caitlyn said it’d all work out, so maybe it’s meant to be. Maybe I just have to accept it. It’s my fate. Something tugged at him, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Sadness overwhelmed him. He needed to distract himself. Pacing the floor, he let his mind wander. His thoughts lead him to Eden. Well, she broke up with him, so I guess I know she likes me now. Never could be sure since she seemed to really like Andrew too. Wonder how she feels about all this.
Now Micah wasn’t in his room, but in Eden’s. It was dimly lit by a night light in the corner. He could see she was in bed, and he drew closer. Kleenex’s sprawled across her floor and littered her bedspread. She’s been crying. Her eyes were shut, her breathing even. She’s asleep at least.
Then it was like a layer peeled back and he saw Gabriel, sitting next to her, leaning against the headrest. He was running his hand from the top of her head, down her hair, which covered most of his lap.
Micah cocked his head to the side. There was a low, deep, lulling sound. He’s humming to her. Micah watched the rise and fall of Eden’s chest. She’d obviously spent the night sobbing.
Returning to his bedroom, Micah understood the meaning. She still cares for Andrew too. And, he groaned, I need to convince her to get back with him.