years old. His parents never really got over it.”
“What’s all this got to do with you?”
“I was there when it happened.”
“What? Why didn’t you report it?” I was confused.
“Because the driver was my boyfriend at the time. He was drunk and I should never have let him behind the wheel ….” she trailed off helplessly.
“You covered for him? Why?”
“He was a senior and I was fifteen. He told me he loved me. All the girls in my year were jealous. I was so obsessed with him I couldn’t tell right from wrong.”
I didn’t know what to say to her. The sin of omission was a serious offense. There were some who believed a bystander who allowed an injustice to take place was as guilty as the perpetrator himself. Taylah’s only defense was her youth and inexperience. Evidently it hadn’t been enough to exonerate her.
“What happened with the guy?”
“Toby and I broke up a few months later when his family moved to Arkansas.”
“Why didn’t you speak up then?”
“I thought about it but I lost my nerve. It wasn’t gonna bring the kid back anyway. I was worried about my reputation and what people would say about me.”
“Oh, Taylah,” I said. “I wish you’d had someone to help you through it. You must have felt so alone.”
She seemed so different from the girl I’d known. The old Taylah had been too busy fussing over her hair to worry about questions of right and wrong. I guess she’d found enlightenment now, only it was too late.
“You know how I knew I was in Hell, or
“Aren’t you scared to be out here alone?” Tucker asked.
“I guess so.” Taylah shrugged. “But I had to cut and run. I couldn’t stand the clubs anymore … being mauled by the demons like a piece of meat.”
Her words served as a reminder to Tucker, who looked around nervously.
“We need to keep going.”
“Walk with us,” I said to Taylah, reluctant to part with her again so soon.
We crept on through the barren Wasteland, Taylah trailing beside us, occasionally disappearing and then reemerging from behind the blanket of fog.
As we walked a passage from the Bible floated back to me:
How swift was God’s wrath. Youth and lack of understanding did not preclude one from judgment. Suddenly my purpose on earth had never seemed clearer.
“So you’re an angel, huh?” Taylah said. “Should have guessed from all that clean livin’.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I didn’t when I was alive. But I can sense your presence now. And besides, your glow kinda gives you away.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Nothing surprises me anymore.”
I didn’t know what else to say so I changed the subject. “Molly misses you,” I said and Taylah smiled miserably.
“How’s she doing? I miss her too.”
“She’s fine,” I said. “Was that really you on the night of Halloween?”
“Yeah.” Taylah nodded. “I was trying to warn you. Didn’t do much good, though. Here you are.”
“You knew what was going to happen?” I asked.
“Not exactly, but I knew the seance was stirring up something bad,” she said. “Abby’s an idiot; she had no idea what she was messing with.”
“Don’t be too hard on her; she was sorry once she realized. How did you know to come?”
“I heard on the grapevine that a portal had opened up in Venus Cove. I knew that could only mean trouble so I tried to warn you. Guess I messed that up too.”
“No, you didn’t,” I said firmly. “You tried.”
“You’d think an angel would know better than to mess with that stuff,” Taylah scolded, sounding a little more like her old self.
“You’re right. I should have tried harder.”
“Oh, don’t get all sentimental,” Taylah said. “You know, you’re kind of a legend down here. We’ve all heard the story of how you broke Jake’s heart and your brother banished him underground. He’s been waiting ever since for a chance to get you back.”
“Does anyone know how the story ends?” I asked croakily.
“Nope,” Taylah said. “That’s what we’re all waiting to find out. I really hope you get back to Xavier.”
“Me too,” I said.
The expanse of cracked earth before us seemed endless. Only the occasional boulder or solitary cactus plant broke it.
“There’s nothin’ here,” said Tucker, defeated. “I reckon we should head back.”
“We can’t,” I protested. “Asher said there’s a portal out here. We need to keep looking.”
“We don’t have to find it today. It’s only one battle we’ve lost, not the whole war.”
“Don’t be a pussy,” Taylah told him, with her usual candor. “I want you guys to bust out of here.”
“When will I get another chance?” I said in a plaintive voice.
“I don’t know.” Tucker looked apologetic. “But we’ve been gone too long now, and we’re skatin’ on thin ice.”
The taste of failure was bitter. We’d come so close and ended up getting nowhere. We’d risked everything and achieved nothing. It was only out of concern for Tucker that I was persuaded to turn back. Jake might be angry with me, but the worst he would do was reinforce security so that I’d never set foot outside the penthouse again. Tucker was a different story. Jake kept him around for his own perverse amusement, but I knew he saw him as expendable. We’d already turned to go back when I became aware that something in the air had changed.
“Wait!” I cried, throwing a hand out to clutch Tucker’s sleeve.
“What now?” he said. He was growing increasingly uneasy. Perhaps in his mind he’d concluded that we’d been led on a wild goose chase.
“Something feels different.” I turned in a slow circle. “Actually, something smells different.” This time I had his attention.
“Describe it,” he said.
“I think it’s salt,” I said, suspending thought and allowing my senses to take charge. I knew that smell. It was as familiar to me as my own skin. It was the briny distinctive scent of the ocean and it washed over me like an old friend welcoming me home.
“The portal must be close,” I said, detaching from them to scramble feverishly forward. “I think … I think I can smell the sea!”
I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me and wasn’t sure whether it had come from Tucker or Taylah or both.
“Up ahead!” Tucker’s voice was charged. “That’s gotta be it. I can’t believe you’ve found it!”
I whirled around to see a mess of tumbleweed drifting back and forth across the dusty red earth, only meters from where we stood. It looked twisted and knotted from its endless journey of being tossed around by the wind across the Wasteland, but there was no mistaking what it was.
I ran forward, half expecting it to dart elusively out of reach, but I was able to grasp it in my hand. It felt
