Blend, p.47
Blend, page 47
“Then we keep pushing. And we do it together. As a family, as a community.”
For the first time since TimBob's death, Kip felt something like hope stir within him. It wasn't the wild exhilaration of revolution, but steadier, more substantial.
“You really think we can change things?”
Arliss's eyes met his, steady and certain.
“I think we already have.”
Kip moved toward his father, awkwardness melting away as Arliss opened his arms. The embrace felt different from before; stronger, permanent. Kip pressed his face against his father's shoulder, breathing in a scent he missed for five years.
“I almost gave up,” Kip whispered.
“I'm here to stay.”
Kip pulled back and met his father's eyes.
“Is it always gonna be this hard?”
“Sometimes the universe has strange ways of bringing people together.” His dad's smile was tired but genuine. “I wish it had been easier.”
“We'll figure this out together,” Kip said, surprising himself with the certainty in his voice. “The Pikers, the agreement, everything.”
“Together,” Arliss agreed. “No more secrets between us.”
“No more secrets,” Kip echoed. The pendant seemed to pulse in response.
Arliss squeezed his shoulder.
“Go on in and get yourself a change of clothes. You'll be next for the shower, and then bed.”
Kip nodded, aware of the bone-deep exhaustion dragging at him. He hadn't slept properly in days, surviving on adrenaline and fear. Now, with safety within reach, his body demanded rest.
But first, he needed to rid himself of his stink.
He shuffled into his bedroom, the door sliding open to reveal the chaos he left behind: Clothes scattered, projects half-assembled on every surface. The familiar mess was comforting after everything that happened.
Kip tossed aside his jacket and grabbed a replacement mesh from his closet. The bed never looked so tempting – until he smelled under his arms.
How many days since the last shower?
Just before Kip opened his door, he heard elevated voices outside. He did not recognize them all.
Like they needed visitors now …
“Dad?”
He slid his door wide and latched onto his father's stunned gaze.
“Kip, step back inside for a moment. I …”
Two strangers stood in the kitchen: Tall and blonde, their features too perfect to be natural. The woman's eyes flickered with amusement, while the man regarded Kip with considerable interest.
“The boy wonder, too,” the woman said. “You both performed so admirably today.”
Arliss positioned himself between Kip and the strangers.
“Son, please go back …”
“Please, do stay,” the blond man interrupted. “We're admirers.”
“Why now?” His father asked, avoiding introductions. “What do you want?”
“To offer congratulations. The level of imagination you used verified our projections. We're happy to have been of assistance.”
Kip found himself entranced by the visitors. They didn't resemble any Tets he knew of.
“Who are they, Dad?”
The woman smiled.
“I'm Fallon. This is Guise. Did you know your father made history?”
“I think that's enough for now,” Arliss said. “Best we resume this at a more private time. Yes?”
Guise looked around, as if rendering judgement on their home.
“This is almost as private as a cell in Enforcement Q, but a few more amenities. Oh, look. Hello.”
His mother entered, wide-eyed with sopping hair.
“What? Arliss, who are they?”
The woman introduced herself and her companion.
“We dropped in for a quick word. We'll be moving along.”
With none of his questions answered, Kip saw a visitor latch eyes onto him. The man called Guise pointed at the pendant.
“Where did you find that?”
Kip's hand moved to cover it.
“It was a gift. It's mine.”
“May I?” Guise extended his hand, stepping closer. “I'm not here to steal it. Not at all. No, it's the stone in the center. I'm fascinated. Do you know its origin?”
Before Arliss could intervene, Guise's fingers brushed the pendant. A spark of blue-white energy crackled between them, like a bolt of lightning.
Kip and the man jerked back in opposite directions. Kip gasped at the sharp sting, while Guise's perfect features registered genuine surprise, which morphed into jaw-dropped excitement.
“We were right all along,” Guise said, turning to Fallon. “It is here. We found the proof.”
Fallon's eyes widened.
“Fascinating. The causal threads suggested the possibility, but I never dared to hope.”
“What is it?” Arliss demanded. “What's happening?”
Guise ignored him, focusing on Kip.
“Never remove it, child. Never. Do you understand?”
“Why?” Kip clutched the pendant tighter, remembering TimBob's identical request. “What is it?”
“It's found you,” Fallon said. “And now we have found it.”
The strangers grabbed each other's hands, poked the side of their necks, and vanished.
Kip blinked. Am I in a fringing dream?
His mother gasped.
“Dad?” Kip's voice shook. “What happened? Who were they?”
Before Arliss answered, a burst of heat bloomed against Kip's chest. A voice that wasn't a voice echoed inside his mind.
“I found you. I will never let you go.”
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What is the pendant? What lies in store for Kip? What happened to Roe Vega? Who or what are Fallon and Guise? The legend of the Rogues of Teton has only just begun to build.
The story continues now in Book 2: ROGUE
A special note from author Frank Kennedy: Before you jump into ROGUE, would you kindly take a moment on Amazon or Goodreads to post a fair, honest review? Even a star rating tells other readers whether this is a story worth jumping into.
Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to contact me directly via my website or newsletter RIGHT HERE.
Happy reading, my friends!
Frank Kennedy, Blend
