“Fuck off, prick,” Layla hissed, claws drawn as she sauntered by Kenzo.
She held no love for Katherine, but something about Campbell’s loss had changed her. Not much, but it made her cherish the bonds she had with her fellow interns. Mostly, she hurt, realizing how unaware of Katherine’s possession she’d been. It reminded her of Jamie’s possession, and Layla began to wonder if her snide, self-absorbed attitude made her oblivious to the pain of others.
Who knew how she’d grow from this event, but she held Campbell close in her heart, opening herself up to the feelings of those around her in a way I never anticipated from Layla.
“What are we all doing here, Frost?” Kenzo asked, leaning against a student desk.
“I think I can explain that,” Milo said, taking on the initial burden of discussion for me.
I needed to step up and speak, but despite making this choice, I hadn’t fully figured out how to explain this truth to them. A truth they all deserved.
“Fate is funny. Sometimes, without realizing it, our lives become intertwined with the people around us.” Milo led the discussion, giving me a chance to work up the nerve to speak. “You twelve have been through so many harrowing events, it’s bonded you all.”
“How unfortunate.” Layla eyed Gael up and down.
“This bond could be the very thing that helps us in recovering Caleb and Tara,” Milo continued.
“But this connection you all share is partly my fault,” I blurted.
“What?” Gael’s sharklike teeth formed into his trademark smile. “Not at all.”
“It is,” I continued. “My interference has dragged you all into danger.”
“It’s not like you made our schedules,” Gael said, smile not wavering.
“Yeah, that’s on our guidance counselor,” Gael added.
“Ba-bawk.”
“Exactly.” Gael slammed a fist into his palm. “Damn her.”
“I’ve been interfering with your lives since your first day at Gemini Academy.”
No one knew what to make of that. Even their thoughts whispered with quiet rationalizations. Obviously, I interfered with their lives, as any teacher did. But they didn’t realize the full extent of my role. My part in changing their fates.
“The first semester you all arrived at Gemini, Milo had a vision of Caleb’s death,” I explained. “There was almost no information surrounding the event. Not a cause, a time, a method. All I knew was that at some point, Caleb Huxley was going to die.”
“And you think this is that vision coming to fruition?” Kenzo blurted, standing to his feet.
“No, I already prevented the vision,” I clarified. “Theodore’s first attack on our homeroom was when that vision was meant to unfold.”
Kenzo trembled. It took everything he had not to explode with anger. Theodore had slain Kenzo’s parents, had mocked their deaths, had slaughtered countless more, all in the name of fun. Now, he had Caleb. Kenzo wondered if things would be different right now if he’d killed Theodore the first time he attacked Gemini Academy.
I also wondered the same thing. But changing the past was impossible. I had a Finn-shaped hole in my heart offering proof enough of that.
“When I set out to prevent Milo’s vision…” I paused, looking at Milo. “When we set out to change events, it had many unforeseen ramifications. For starters, I inadvertently bound each of you to each other.”
Minds percolated over that comment, faces scrunched, and a few eyebrows raised suspiciously.
“Fates are often overlapped by our decisions,” Milo elaborated, giving them a similar explanation to how futures and fortunes intertwined, especially when someone meddled with potential outcomes.
“So, saving Caleb bound our lives together?” Jennifer asked, genuinely curious.
“How lucky for you.” Gael blew a sassy kiss her way.
Jennifer rolled her eyes and flipped him off.
“It’s complicated and cosmic,” Milo said. “Sometimes the connections remain subtle, almost six degrees of separation. Other times, whole lives are linked.”
