“Well, holy cold day in hell. I did not predict that reaction from practical old Lucy.” While she was an optimistic person, she didn’t do fantasy very well.
“Hey, I’m open-minded. I’ve believed your craziness for years. What’s one more thing?” She smiled, her expression thoughtful. “I knew how much you love your dreamland and I never said anything, but I’m secretly a little jealous. You had this whole world I could never be a part of, even if it was just in your crazy mind. But now, well, I’m going on a little bit of faith.”
“So we’re agreed: stalk this alley until the man appears again.”
She bopped her head a few times. “Agreed. And let’s call him Ralph. Alley man is not working for me.”
“Agreed.”
Ralph was not manly enough, not even close, but it would work for now.
We were both bouncing. Never for one moment had I believed my dreamland was real. But now ... well, for the first time I was excited to turn eighteen.
Chapter 3
It was reckless, but we hung around that alley as much as possible over the next three days. For once the streets were eerily quiet. No gangers or rebels crossed our path. There was probably a rebel mission somewhere, which was a big-time gangers’ distraction. That morning we waited as long as feasible before we had to leave to make it back to the compound in time for fight class.
Relishing the chance to work off some of my frustration, I stepped onto the blue mat with Chrissie. As one of the few girls near my height, we were often teamed up to fight. That day it was Muay Thai. Which was one of my favorites. It suited the long-limbed and toned litheness of my body. I might lack Lucy’s curves, but I utilized what I had.
I flexed my fingers. I may have wrapped my wrists a little tightly that day, but they would loosen during the round. We fought no-holds-barred; they prepared us well for the possibility that we would get our butts kicked as soon as we stepped onto the streets.
Chrissie and I faced off before bowing in the traditional manner. Our instructor nodded, and as soon as Chrissie slammed her knuckles into mine I started to dance. Muay Thai is light on your feet and constantly moving. She came straight at me; her style was direct.
I dodged the first jab from her left and kicked out. I managed to make contact with her thigh before she darted away. I followed close behind, throwing my own right hook, which she blocked. We continued in this manner, but with my unrelenting direct attacks Chrissie was starting to slow. I had so much extra energy; there was no way she was taking me down.
After a few minutes of blocking, jabbing, back-and-forth sparring, I managed to pass her guard, throwing out my right elbow and connecting soundly along her cheek. With a squeal she went down and appeared to be staying there. Looking up at me, one hand to her face, she grimaced.
“I concede. Abigail’s on fire tonight.”
I laughed, rubbing a painful spot on my arm. “You got quite a few good hits in yourself. I’m just glad that elbow missed your nose.” Reaching down, I pulled her to her feet.
She shook her head. “Tell me about it, plastic surgeon. I like my nose just the way it is.”
It’s not the nicest nickname. I’ve rearranged a few noses in my time. I might be a little competitive.
Bouncing off the fight floor, I dropped down next to Lucy. I proceeded to unwind my straps, before throwing them aside.
“Well, you enjoyed that a little too much.” She was lying on her stomach, arms tented in front of her with her face resting on her hands. Two other girls had stepped up for their round.
“I love fighting. I’m just glad my ribs are finally pain free. It was so frustrating sitting out for the last few days.”
“I wish they would change the blue mats. They smell like sweaty ass.” She screwed up her tiny nose. “Although it is incentive to stay on your feet.”
Blue mat.
Cursing loudly, I shot to my feet. Gesturing to Lucy, I ran from the room. She was right behind me. How could I forget something so important? The moment she’d mentioned ‘blue mat’, the memory had been triggered. Reaching our room, I waited for Lucy to step inside and then slammed the door shut.
“What. The. Hell. Abbs?” She gasped each word out.
“I’m such an idiot.” I tried to keep the panic at bay. “I forgot until you mentioned ‘blue mat’. The woman in my dream, Luce, she told me to find the blue stone.”
“What! How could you forget that?” she screeched. “Next time, write your dream down or something.”
She stopped scolding; her expression was now shrewd. “Because if you had mentioned it before I could have told you that recently I’ve heard reference to a large sapphire rock.” She paused. “During some innocent eavesdropping. What are the odds that this is the very stone you’re looking for?”
I narrowed my eyes in disbelief. “Innocent? You? Don’t be ridiculous. What were you really doing?”