I couldn’t help but be worried to know the Guardians stuck in the portal were being attacked by creatures that sounded an awful lot like demons. I swallowed hard and tried to remember that Brandon was trained to fight, and Jamie was with him, not to mention his dad would keep him safe.
“There’s a girl here I think you’ll want to meet, once we get out. I’m not sure how to tell you this exactly... but... it’s Heather. Yeah, that Heather.” I caught my breath—I’d been looking for Heather ever since I’d met Mina and Bonnie earlier in the year. To think, she’d been in the portal the whole time!
“She’s been in here over a century. So it’s no wonder you couldn’t track her down. She’s been super helpful. She can tell us when to expect an attack. There’s an iron pin in the ground that we think has something to do with how we can get out. So the brains of the operation are all pondering what to do. I think we’re going to be able to get out soon, Cass. Heather says the portal opens every six hours. We just have to be careful because sometimes it opens in a bad position, like outer space, or way down deep in the ocean. The first time it opened here, it was under the water, and Heather refused to go. Once we have a clear opportunity to escape, we will. It’s just, Heather says there’s a rule that someone has to stay behind. I don’t know who that will be, or if there’s a way around it, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be me or Heather. She’s already said she is getting out, no matter what. Don’t mention this to your sister, but I’m pretty sure Aaron has already decided it will be him. It would be great if someone else would come in when the portal opens, someone we don’t know, even a Vampire, so the rest of us can leave.
“This might be the longest text I’ve ever sent, and I’m not even sure it’ll go out. I don’t understand how a text can reach in and out of a portal, but I’m guessing it must be when the portal opens, if we are close enough to a tower or satellite or something.
“I hope you’ve had a chance to talk to my mom. I’m sure she’s worried. Please call her and tell her I’m okay if you haven’t. Or let her know you got this. Tell her I love her.
“I guess I should go. I hear some howls off in the distance. I love you so much, Cass. I’m not gonna get all sappy on you because it’s not like I’m not going to see you soon. The portal does open—so I will get out of it. Just as soon as it’s safe. I love you.”
I read over it again, long as it was, thankful he’d been so detailed. His text was so much more complete than any of the earlier ones had been. Or maybe Ashley and Tara just didn’t want to share all of the details. At any rate, I was relieved to hear the reason the messages were going through was because the portal was opening. If that was the case, I knew they’d find their way out soon enough.
The next text I opened was from Elliott. It was a lot shorter than Brandon’s. “Hey, lil girl. I hope you’re hangin’ in there. Yeah, I type like I talk. Anyhow, we’re fine. Brandon is being unbelievably strong, which makes me proud. Hasn’t cried at all. Dax, on the other hand.... That kid was a hunter?” I laughed. Dax had been a park ranger before he joined LIGHTS. I guessed he wasn’t as tough as I’d thought. “The portal seems to open every once in a while, so we’ll figure out how to get out of here. Y’all keep workin’ on it, too, and we’ll be out soon enough. Take care, lil girl. I love you. PS—don’t you be eatin’ my Cheetos.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that last bit. How did he know I’d been eating them? I figured it was just an attempt to make me laugh; it had worked. I missed him so much, but I was glad if Brandon had to be in there, his dad was, too.
Jamie sent me a short text to let me know he would keep Brandon safe for me and to please do all I could to keep Ashley calm. “She’s not as strong as you are,” he’d said. I couldn’t really argue with that, considering all of the tears she’d shed today.
Dax’s text was even shorter. Just a line to say he missed me and to see if I could use my special powers to get them out. Like I hadn’t been trying.... And then there was a text from Alex.
It was weird and unsettling and made me uncomfortable and sad all at the same time. It wasn’t very long, but he’d managed to stir up all of those emotions with just a few words. “Miss Cassidy, I want you to know I shall do my utmost to assist your beau’s safe return to you. I must admit, I have the satisfying feeling that this place is different, that there is a possibility I may not return along with the others. Please keep in mind, if this should transpire, it will be for the best. You should know, you are a special girl. If I shall see your pretty face again, I may be embarrassed at this admission, but in case I don’t, know that the time I’ve spent with you has been divine. Best regards, Alex.”
I had to read it one more time, even though I had messages from Tara and Ashley wanting to share texts with them. What was Alex trying to say exactly? Did he think he’d be the one left behind, or did he actually think he could die in there? Guardians who pass through the Blue Moon Portal aren’t supposed to be able to die, so I doubted that was the case. But Alex wanted to die. He had decided years ago that if we ever figured out a way for it to be possible, he wanted to go on to the other side and be with his family. His son had died so young, and his wife, Betsy, had been the love of his life. Part of me knew I’d be devastated if anything happened to Alex while he was away. If he died out here, on his own terms, maybe I could accept that, but I had no idea when I’d watched him get in the SUV the night before, it might be the last time I’d ever see him, and it wasn’t the way I wanted it to end.