Raven Rise by D.J. MacHale Page B

know what to do.
    â€œIbara,” he called out.
    The ring didn’t move. Patrick stomped on it, as if trying to wake it up.
    â€œIbara!” he called again.
    The ring didn’t respond. Patrick was reeling. In desperation he said, “First Earth.”
    The ring didn’t respond. Patrick’s world was closing in on him and it wasn’t even his world. Not anymore. He had never felt more alone.
    â€œWhat have you done, Pendragon?” he whispered, choking back emotion. “Where are you?”

FIRST EARTH
    The voyage back to New York on the Queen Mary took six days. To Mark it felt like six weeks. He rarely left the cabin he shared with Dodger. The personable acolyte continually tried to cajole him into getting some air. Or exercise. Or anything. Mark wasn’t interested. He spent most of the day in bed or staring out at the never-ending Atlantic.
    Dodger had better luck with Courtney and the Dimonds, convincing them to make the best of their situation. They played tennis and swam in the pool and enjoyed some fine meals. It was mostly because they didn’t know what else to do. There wasn’t much joy involved. They were passing time. It was better than going crazy.
    Looming over everyone’s head was the concern over what their next move would be. Courtney promised Mark she wouldn’t let on to his parents about what had happened with Nevva Winter and his Traveler ring. It would be up to Mark to tell them when he felt ready. The few times she asked Mark what was going through his head, she was answered with a shrug and a grunt. Courtney feared that Mark was sinking into a depression and she didn’t know how to shake him out of it. Courtney wasn’t a stranger to depression. She knew that no amount of cajoling or discussion would help. He would have to work things through on his own. All she could do was be there for him when he needed support. A few times she had to stop Dodger from barging into the stateroom to try to sweep Mark up and out. Up and out was the last thing Mark needed. What he needed was time. And answers.
    It wasn’t until the last evening of the voyage that Mark came out of seclusion and knocked on the door to his parents’ stateroom.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Mark said, hanging his head when he saw his mom and dad. “For everything.”
    Mrs. Dimond hugged her son, squeezing him as if she never wanted to let him go.
    Mr. Dimond said, “Mark, there isn’t a whole lot I understand about what’s been happening, but the one thing I know for certain is that you have nothing to be sorry about.”
    â€œWe’re proud of you,” Mrs. Dimond said, sniffling back tears. “To think of what you’ve had to deal with. It’s unfathomable. My little boy. When did you grow up?”
    Mark wasn’t so sure when that happened. He kind of wished it hadn’t. He liked his old life just fine. At first the idea of Bobby fluming around to other worlds to battle evil sounded romantic and exciting. If he were being totally honest, he’d have to admit that back in the early days, he longed to be part of the adventure. As much as he feared the possibility of Saint Dane setting his sights on Second Earth, some part of him couldn’t wait for it to happen. He wanted to be part of the action. But those days were long gone. Saint Dane was evil. There was nothing romantic or adventurous about evil. It destroyed his life and nearly killed Courtney and his parents…not to mention the fact that his invention helped Saint Dane create the mechanism for mayhem on multiple territories. Almost four years had passed since he received Bobby’s first journal. He had become a different person. He missed the old person.
    Mark hugged his mom back then pulled away. He wasn’t there only to apologize. He had business. It was time for a family conference.
    â€œWe’re worried about you,” Mrs. Dimond began.
    â€œI’m