Nil on Fire by Lynne Matson Page B

help in my head—leave me alone once I did what she asked?
    I refused to consider any alternative.
    Three days , I thought.
    The plane dipped, then touched down with a rough lurch.
    I turned to Rives and smiled. “And so it begins,” I said dramatically.
    He shook his head, his jaw tight. “I don’t think it ever ended.”
    *   *   *
    â€œCharley!”
    Hearing my voice, she turned, her ponytail swinging behind her, her eyes lighting up when she saw Rives and me a few feet away. She and Thad stood near the ground transportation entrance, a striking couple who were easy to spot in the middle of the bustling Honolulu airport. Each wore a backpack and carried nothing else. Our trip didn’t require much in the packing department. Rives and I each had only a single backpack too.
    I hugged Charley, feeling the strength of her as she hugged me back. Now that I knew her, Charley’s slow drawl didn’t fool me one bit. She was a force of will and muscle.
    Beside us, Rives and Thad clasped hands, then Thad pulled Rives into a tight hug.
    â€œGood to see you, brother,” Thad said, his voice gruff with emotion.
    â€œFeeling’s mutual.” Rives grinned.
    Relief that Thad had survived Nil hit me anew; it was Rives’s relief driving mine.
    Thad let Rives go and turned to me. “Skye.” He hugged me as warmly as he’d hugged Rives. “Long time no see, Nil slayer.”
    â€œI wish.” I hugged him back. “I mean, I wish I’d slayed Nil, or at least helped it pass peacefully.” But I hadn’t done either: I hadn’t killed the island or helped it.
    I’d just made it worse.
    Thad studied me, his blue eyes intense.
    â€œLooks like this is the last shot then, eh?” He adjusted his backpack, his smile fading. “Skye, listen. I’m not going to lie to you, and I want this out in the open from the get-go. I have a bad feeling about this trip. After all, this is Nil we’re messing with, right? And the thought of being anywhere near a gate?” He raised his eyebrows. “It creeps me out. Weirds me out.” He sighed. “I spent a year there, Skye. A full year. And barely got out alive.” His sapphire gaze held ghosts I didn’t recognize but knew belonged to Nil. “I just want it on the record right now that I think this is a seriously bad idea.”
    â€œThat makes two of us, bro.” Rives nodded.
    â€œNoted,” I said, annoyed. Don’t they realize I have no choice? That if I don’t go, the girl in my head won’t leave me alone? Ever?
    I wanted her gone , which was why I had to go to the Death Twin. There was no alternative, not for me. Not if I wanted to be free.
    I glanced at Rives, his expression a blank mask, but his eyes were weary with resignation. He knows , I thought, relaxing. He knows I have no choice. Still holding Rives’s gaze, my voice radiated calm. “It’s going to be okay.”
    â€œI hope you’re right,” Thad said, his tone skeptical.
    Me too , I thought.
    Thad turned toward Rives. “So tell me. Besides this little detour, what’s been happening?”
    The two boys fell into a familiar rhythm, a relaxed back-and-forth about our recent Europe trip and Thad’s current training schedule.
    â€œThis is going to be awesome.” Charley’s voice was confident. “An island road trip with you and Rives to stop Nil once and for all.” She glanced at Thad, watching him laugh with Rives, her smile fading as her expression turned pensive.
    â€œCharley, what is it?”
    â€œThad doesn’t get it.” Her golden eyes flashed. “He thinks this trip is optional, like it’s a whim. It’s not. Not for me.” She paused. “I think because he was there a full year, he feels done. But I left early, without planning on it. I’m not saying I want to go back to Nil, not at all—for the record,