A ripple in the air at the far end of the road distorted her vision.It hovered above the pavement, a wavering mirage that bent the light in a way that made her stomach drop.It was faint, barely there, but unmistakable.
It reminded her of the rift.
"Did you see that?"she whispered.
Amy turned."See what?"
"That."Kallie pointed, but the ripple was gone.
The road looked normal.Empty.
Amy frowned."There's nothing there."
Kallie swallowed hard, her pulse thudding in her ears."I...must've imagined it."
Amy shrugged and kept walking, but Kallie didn't move right away.She stared down the street, waiting for the air to ripple again, waiting for the world to glitch the way it used to.
Nothing happened.
But the unease lingered.
She hurried after Amy, her steps quickening as they approached the apartment.She thanked Amy for the walk, waved, and rushed inside, locking the door behind her.
For a moment, she leaned against it, breathing hard.
It was probably nothing.Just heat on the pavement.A trick of the light.
The back of her head hit the door.Deep down, in the part of her that had survived Everstill, she knew better.
Some places refused to let go.
She pushed off the door and took a quick shower.Once she finished, she started dinner when Finn walked into the apartment.She jumped, startled.He froze, reading her instantly, his expression shifting from tired to alert in a heartbeat.
"Kallie?"he said softly."What's wrong?"
She swallowed hard, her throat tight."I...I saw something when I was walking."
He crossed the room in three long strides.His hands came up to her arms, steadying her."Tell me."
"Amy asked me to walk with her."She took a shaky breath."We were on our way back, about a half a block from the apartment.It was just for a second, but...it looked like a shimmer.Like the air shimmered.Like—"
She couldn't finish.
Finn's jaw tightened.He guided her to the couch, sitting beside her, his hand warm around hers."Breathe."
She inhaled deeply.The scare stayed with her.What would happen if the rift got hold of one of them?
"Kallie."Finn ran his hand over his beard."I've had moments when I think I've seen the rift, too."
Her gaze snapped to him."You have?"
His eyes darkened."Little things.A flicker in the corner of my eye.A shadow that disappears when I look at it.Once, I thought I heard something...like the hum the rift made."
A chill ran through her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"she whispered.
"Because it always goes away," he said."And I didn't want to scare you."
