I threw him a reprimanding glance. "You don't have to say it with such glee."

"Just kidding. You're not a quitter."

The man knew me too well. "Damn right. I learned a lot though. We have over twenty frame styles, from traditional to vintage-inspired..." I prattled on until I pulled outside our cul-de-sac.

"You have ten minutes," Torin said. "Change into running gear."

I checked on Dad first. He was asleep, his fever down. He looked so frail. He used to be a triathlete and the two of us would run in the summer and do five and ten-K races at local events. Kayville and neighboring towns were big on outdoor events. Tears rushed to my eyes as memories whipped through my head and I wanted to slap myself.

No more self-pity.

I'd texted Cora earlier, but she hadn't responded. She wasn't in her bedroom when I peeked in, so I sent her another message, changed into running pants, tank top and a jacket, and raced downstairs.

"We should be back in an hour," I said when Femi looked up.

Torin already had the engine running. I didn't ask where we were going. He seemed impatient to leave, so I hopped on the Harley and we took off.

Instead of going into town, he used back roads. We didn't go far before we hit SW Whitfield Hill Road. Tillamook Forest was on the west side of town. It was hilly with nature trails, rivers and hills. The sun was still up, but a chill was settling on the valley floor.

The road forked to the Whitfield Vineyard to the north and a dead end to the right. We headed toward the dead end. There was nothing but trees and patches of grass.

I removed my helmet and looked around. "Where exactly are we running?"

"Uphill and through the forest, where we can't be seen."

"Except by the coyotes, black bears, and the wildcats," I mumbled.

He chuckled. "That's the idea."

My jaw dropped. "Seriously?"

"I'm just kidding. But you can outrun them. Or you should." He shrugged off his jacket and threw it on top of the bike. The shirt hugged his chest like it was painted on. Add the running tights and he was a man worthy of a sports magazine cover. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"Yes." I gave him a sweet smile. "Something about crashing."

He shook his head. "Once you engage your speed runes, you must think fast or you crash into a tree. Remember, the tree won't be the only thing going down if you do."

"Couldn't we just run in a grassy area today?"

"We could, but I want you to hit the ground running. You won't need your jacket."

"Nah, I'll keep it on." I rubbed my arms though the sun was still up.

Torin led the way. "Okay. If you fall-"

"You'll catch me."

He shot me an amused glance. "No, I won't. You engage your protection and pain runes, roll, jump up and keep going."

Was he serious? His expression said he was. Okay, I was officially in love with a sadist. We entered the trees, and he engaged his invisibility runes.

"Remember, the faster you want to go, the more speed runes you use," he said.

I nodded. The zing that accompanied the runes would never get old.

"Catch me if you can." Torin took off. He started slow, going at a jogger's pace, but boy, did he move gracefully. Like a cat. Every muscle in perfect condition.

Yep, I was perfectly happy following him and enjoying the view. The ground wasn't rocky and there was more grass than trees, so no worries about crashing into one yet.

"Pick up speed, slowpoke," he called out. "Engage your vision runes."

My eyesight sharpened. I focused on him, where his feet landed. The trees in my periphery blurred as we picked up speed. We left the grassy terrain behind as more trees replaced them. Still the area wasn't dense or thick with vegetation. Torin whipped around trees as though he knew the terrain, but he stayed on trails.

We headed up the hill, moving through patches of grass and shrubbery, then more trees. The sun bathed the vegetation with rays of gold and orange. We had forty-five minutes of light left before sundown, but the sun wasn't the reason I was sweating. No wonder Torin had left his jacket behind. Covering distance faster than a Nascar racer was freaking hard. My heart pounded and sweat trickled down my back, yet I'd never felt so euphoric.

When Torin called out and slowed down, I didn't want to stop. I was in the zone. I shot past him, went on for a minute or two, then looped back. He grinned, closing the gap between us. He wasn't even sweating or breathing hard.

"How was that?" Torin asked.

"Amazing." I pulled off my jacket. "How often do you come out here?"

"Once a week. I'd like to make it every other day. That won't stay," he added, nodding at my jacket, which I was tying around my waist. "I can carry it for you."

"No, I'm good. It's beautiful up here." The trees to our left were even denser, but I got my bearing fast. "Is Snake Creek down there?"

Torin nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll go all the way down to the creek and back up. Ready to head back?"

"Yep. I lead this time." I didn't wait for his response. "Eat my dust," I yelled, engaging my endurance and speed runes.

I was good with directions, always had been. Even as a child, Mom would watch me with amazement as I gave directions to people. Torin was gaining on me and I made the mistake of glancing at him. I didn't see the tree, but he did and shot forward like a bullet, grabbed me, and pulled me out of harm's way. At a freaking full run.

He put me down. "Later, slowpoke."

I pushed to catch up with him with little result. When I burst out of the trees. He was sitting on the bike chugging water. He reached inside the saddle, pulled out another bottled water, and tossed it to me.

"You were just humoring me. You are fast." I guzzled my water. "I mean, really, really fast."

"I try." He pushed the hair from my sweaty forehead, then he handed me my jacket. "You dropped this too."

"I did?" He was always right, which could be so annoying sometimes. "Tomorrow, don't hold back. I want to see how fast I can go."

CHAPTER 9. ALTERED FUTURE.

I sat in the middle of my bed and watched Femi remove rings from her jewelry box. I was still pumped after our run despite the fact that I'd showered, eaten, and even spent a few minutes with Dad. His fever was under control, but he was still lethargic.

"These are mementos from tours, so nothing scary. Every concert I attend, I always visit local shops run by witches and buy something. People buy concert T-shirts and hats, I collect charm bracelets, amulets, and rings." She placed three bracelets and two pendants and several rings in front of me. "Remember, these are visions. They are not real even though they might feel like it." She sat back. "When you're ready, pick up one."

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Please, let the visions be clear this time. I reached forward and lifted a charm bracelet and closed my hand around it. Femi gave me an encouraging smile, then her face faded to black.

The screaming fans filled my ear and bodies appeared to press against me. Next to me was Femi waving and jumping to the beat of Michael Jackson. The King of Pop was on stage and my blurry vision wouldn't let me see him properly. I swear, once my vision cleared, I was so touching this bracelet. I looked at my hand and realized I still clutched the bracelet.

I opened my palm and the bracelet dropped. The concert scene disappeared and my eyes met Femi's. I grinned. "I didn't fall over."

"No, you didn't." She grabbed a hand mirror and held it in front of my face.

My hazel eyes were golden. As I watched, the color faded.

"Your eyes didn't roll into the back of your head," she added. "They glowed and stayed transfixed on me."

"That's good right?"

She nodded.

"So you were a Michael Jackson fan?"

"I still am. If you ever visit me at my house, you'll see. I probably attended more of his concerts than any other musician. The Beatles and Elvis come second and third. Was your vision still blurry?"

I nodded. My eyes fell on the picture of me Eirik had taken and given me on my seventeenth birthday. It wasn't the best or the worst of his work, but it meant the world to me.

"They were like some pictures Eirik used to take whenever he used a wrong lens. Oh, and I could control my return. I just let go of the bracelet."

"You want to try another?"

I nodded and palmed the ring, which took me to a Bon Jovi concert. I lingered. Torin loved Bon Jovi. Another bracelet took me to The Beatles performance, then other bands with familiar songs I couldn't name.

"I think that's enough for tonight," Femi said. "We'll do more tomorrow."

Femi collected her things while I studied my reflection. My eyes still had the golden glow. Even though I had hazel eyes, the brown tended to dominate them.

Once Femi left, I texted Cora before opening the portal to her bedroom. She waved from her desk. "Almost done editing," she said.

Echo wasn't around and her door was closed. I stood beside her and read the links she was adding at the end of her video. "That's nice."

"Isn't it? I had no idea how many organizations out there help people deal with grief. I thought I'd add them in case they can't talk to a friend or relative."

When she was done, we watched the recording. She'd named it Entry A. "What's going to happen when you reach Z?"

She frowned. "I don't know. I haven't thought that far. I'll do one every other week. If the response is great, then I can do weekly." She got up and stretched. "What's the verdict?"

"It's great, Cora. You said it was a hypothetical situation and didn't use real names. You focused on the power of forgiveness. Anyone should relate to that."

Cora leaned on her desk and quickly changed the title to The Power of Forgiveness. "Now it's perfect."

A knock at the door and we both jumped back. I engaged my runes before her mother entered with a hamper. "Hey, hun. Was that Raine?"

"W...what?" Cora's asked.

"I heard Raine's voice."

Cora glanced at me and made a face. I pointed frantically at her cell phone.

"Yeah, we were talking on the cell phone. You know, I put her on the speaker while I worked on my new vlog."

"Oh. I didn't know you were back vlogging." Her mother's voice said she didn't like the news. She might change her tune once she saw it.

I pointed at the portal and Cora nodded.

"We don't see her anymore, the poor dear," her mother said, entering Cora's closet. "Does she mentioned Svana and how she's doing?"

Cora got up. "No."

I glared at her. We'd talked about this. She had to stay true to our story.

"I mean yes, she's talked about it but no, Mrs. Cooper is not doing well," Cora corrected, made a face at me as though to say: sorry, and followed her mother. "Mom, I'll take care of my laundry."

Her mother patted her arm and kissed her temple. Watching them, I fought the urge to cry. I missed Mom. Missed her voice. Her hugs. Mom loved hugs. She would embarrass me with long hugs when she'd drop me off in middle school. That was why I'd preferred Dad driving me to school. Now I could kill for one of her hugs.

"Don't stay up too late," Cora's mother said. "Remember it's a school night."

"Kay, Mom."

I waited until the door closed behind her then rounded on Cora. "Seriously?"

"Oh, come on. I panicked and blanked out." She went to the door and peered outside. "She's gone."

"Stick to the answer we agreed on, please."

"Okay. Your mother is at a private institution in Portland. You visit her every weekend, but you don't like talking about her. One of these days, she'll ask for the name of the hospital and why I don't go with you."

"Tell her only family members are allowed and it's a name you can't pronounce. See you tomorrow." I paused by the portal. "Show her your vlog. She'll love it."

She grinned. "I know. She hated my old vlog."

I waved and disappeared through the portal. I brushed my teeth and crawled under the covers. Something fell from my bed and rolled onto the floor. I turned on the lights and searched for it. It was one of Femi's rings.

Without thinking about my abilities, I palmed it. The room started to fade. I quickly sat and scooted back until my back pressed against the bed.

I'd expected another band and screaming fans, instead I was inside a shop. Must be where Femi had bought the ring. A woman dressed like Mom stood behind the counter. Mom was into Boho chic-belted maxi skirts and cute embroidered tops, hair down, head accessories and lots of hand-made jewelry. The woman's image was a little clearer.

I strained to see her properly.