"What does being a protector have to do with being the Brain of the Echo? I'm not a genius like Sefton Stainthorpe. He was a scientist, right? I've learned that much from exploring the Echo world."
Dax lifts one brow at me. "You assume 'the Brain' refers to intelligence. But even a human brain contains more than knowledge. It's the seat of knowledge, yes, but also the seat of everything that turns a living thing into a human being—the heart, soul, and lifeblood."
"But Grant and Erin are the Heart and the Lifeblood."
"Yes, but they haven't been able to affect much change in the Echo. We've believed for a while now that the Echo lacks the balancing power that will bring it under control, and that's why Grant and Erin can't erase the remnants of the alchemy of worlds."
I stand up and start pacing, which is difficult in a small tent with people sitting on the floor around me. But I try it anyway. Movement might help with the tension that's been building inside me ever since Allison walked into the tent and started explaining crazy things to me. "I am not the Brain of anything. I'm just a guy who got thrown into the Echo and had to learn to survive. And I got my friends killed. That's not heroic, and certainly nothing that would qualify me to become the balancing whatever in the Echo."
My pacing speeds up, and I almost trip over Grant, mumbling a half-assed apology.
"Stop, Gabriel," Sarah says.
And I stop. Why? Because her voice always does something to me. It's like a shot of Valium injected directly into my veins. Well, no, it's more like a double shot of Valium and Viagra. Yes, I'm attracted to Sarah, but it's weird and nothing I'm ever going to admit to or surrender to, no matter what. Sarah and I gaze at each other without speaking, without showing our reactions to each other. But I have the strangest feeling she's experiencing the same things I am.
Thunder explodes overhead, making the ground beneath us shudder so violently that I stumble into Sarah. Without realizing what I'm doing, I pull her into my arms.
"We need to get into the woods," Grant says. "Everybody was safe there when the Echo lightning started."
Dax grabs Allison. "We need to find Willow. Gabriel, make sure Sarah gets to safety. Let's all meet at the hot spring. She knows where that is."
The tent begins to sway as another round of thunder detonates. As we hurry out of the tent, Dax and Allison veer to the left, while Grant and Erin announce they're going to make sure everyone makes it into the woods. I've been tasked with protecting Sarah, and I focus on that. I keep hold of her hand aswe sprint toward the trees, which tower so high above our heads that I don't see how lightning could reach us down here. Other people rush into the woods too, and we make sure they know everyone should meet at the hot spring.
Whatever is about to happen, it can't be good.
Chapter Six
Sarah
What on earth is happening today? The Echo had been stable for months, with only the occasional hiccup. Now, it seems intent on destroying me. I might think I'm being paranoid if I hadn't witnessed the lightning coming after me, strike after strike. Why me? I'm just an amnesiac who has no special skills or magical powers.
Unless I do have skills and powers. Maybe I just can't remember having them.
Gabriel's hand in mine relieves the worst of my fear, though I can't figure out why. I met him today. We've barely spoken to each other. Yet he nearly died for me, and I trust him to be there if I need him again. I trust him not to lie too. Even when he attacked me on the beach, I felt no fear of him.
The thunder fades away, and lightning sizzles across the sky. I can just see it through the treetops, but I know it will grow closer and more powerful. Am I inadvertently leading the Echo lightning to the others? I don't want my friends to die because of me. If the Echo wants me dead, maybe I should just let it have me.
I stumble to a halt beside a wide tree.
Gabriel tugs my hand, but I still don't move. "Come on, Sarah. We need to keep moving."
I shake my head. "Everyone's in danger because of me. I should go back and face the lightning. Let it take me."
"Don't be stupid. Your friends are waiting for you."
"Go on. I'm staying here."
I'd seen everyone from Sanctuary rush past us, heading toward the hot spring. Allison and Dax, Grant and Erin, Willow too. They're out of the path of the lightning, provided that I don't follow them. The strongest thing I can do is to let the Echo take me.
So I yank my hand free of Gabriel's and run back toward Sanctuary.
I can hear footfalls behind me, and I know it's Gabriel. I run as fast as I can, praying he won't catch up and stop me. I need to do this. Maybe it's my destiny. If this has even a snowball's chance of saving my friends, I'll do it.
"Sarah, stop!" Gabriel shouts. "What do you think you're doing?"
I ignore him and keep running. My legs have started to hurt, and I feel like I can't catch my breath. Doesn't matter. I need to get out of the woods so the lightning can take me.Please let this end the madness, please let it save everyone, please, please, please. I've just broken out of the woods, and I can see the camp up ahead, not more than thirty feet away.
Arms lash around me, halting me so swiftly that I stumble, and the man trying to restrain me loses his footing. We both crash to the ground, with Gabriel on top of me. He quickly rises and flips me over, kneeling there as he glares at me and struggles to breathe.