Морган Райс - The Orb of Kandra

Esther looked up at him then. “Your real parents. Are you sure they’ll accept you as you are?”

Oliver realized then that he hadn’t even thought about it. They’d given him up in the first place, hadn’t they? What if they’d been so terrified of their peculiar baby they’d dumped him and ran?

But then he remembered the visions in which his parents had come to him. They were warm. Kind. Inviting. They’d told him they loved him and that they were always with him, watching, guiding. He was certain that they’d be pleased to be reunited.

Or was he?

“I’m sure,” he said. But, for the first time, he was not so sure. What if this entire quest was ill conceived?

“And what will you do once you find them?” Esther added.

Oliver pondered her words. There had to have been some good reason as to why they’d given him up as a baby. Some reason they’d never come to find him. Some reason why they weren’t currently in his life.

He looked at Esther. “That’s a good question. I honestly don’t know.”

They fell into silence, the train gently rocking them back and forth as it cut through the landscape.

Oliver looked out the window as the sight of historic Boston came into view. It looked wonderful, like something from a movie. A swell of excitement overcame him. Though he may not know what he’d do when he found his real Mom and Dad, he couldn’t wait to find them.

Just then, the announcer’s voice came over the speaker.

“Next stop: Boston.”

As the train pulled into the station, Oliver felt his chest leap with excitement. He’d never traveled before—the Blues never went on vacation—so being in Boston felt very exciting.

He and Esther alighted from the train and headed into the very busy station. It was grand-looking with marble pillars and sculptures dotted about the place. People in business suits whizzed around speaking loudly into their cell phones. It all felt rather overwhelming for Oliver.

“Right, it’s two miles to Harvard University from here,” he explained. “We need to head due north and cross the river.”

“How do you know?” Esther asked. “Does your compass give directions too?”

Oliver chuckled and shook his head. He pointed to a large brightly colored map hanging against the station wall. It showed them all the tourists spots, including Harvard University.

“Oh,” Esther said, blushing.

As they left the station, a gentle autumn breeze stirred the fallen leaves on the sidewalk and there was a hint of gold in the sky.

They started to stroll in the direction of Cambridge.

“It looks very different than in my era,” Esther commented.

“Really?” Oliver asked, recalling how Esther came from the 1970s.

“Yes. There’s more traffic. More people. But the students all look the same.” She smirked. “Brown corduroy must be back in fashion.”

There were indeed many college students walking along the streets, looking purposeful with their books in their arms. It reminded Oliver of the kids at the School for Seers, who were always rushing some place with serious, studious expressions on their faces.

“How do you think everyone is back at school?” he asked. “I miss them.”

He thought of Hazel, Walter, and Simon, the friends he’d made at the School for Seers. But most of all he missed Ralph. Ralph Black was the closest he’d come to having a best friend.

“I’m sure they’re doing just fine,” Esther replied. “They’ll be busy with class. Doctor Ziblatt was just starting her astral projection classes when I left.”

Oliver’s eyes widened. “Astral projection? I’m sorry to be missing that.”

“Me too.”

Oliver heard a hint of melancholy in Esther’s voice. He wondered again what had propelled Esther to follow him here. He felt like there must be more to the story, something she wasn’t telling him.

They reached the bridge that crossed over the Charles River. It was bustling with college students. In the water below they could see rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. It seemed like a very lively and vibrant place.

They started to walk across the bridge.

“Has your compass changed at all?” Esther asked.

Oliver checked it. “No. It’s still showing those same four symbols.”

Esther held her palm out and Oliver handed it to her. She inspected it with a look of awe. “I wonder what it is. Where it came from. I’m surprised Armando didn’t know, since he’s an inventor.”

“I think it’s seer technology,” Oliver said. “I mean, only the universe knows the timelines and can guide someone along them, so it must be.”

Esther handed it back to Oliver, who placed it carefully into his pocket.

“I wonder if Professor Nightingale will know,” she said. “You did say he was a seer, didn’t you?”

Oliver nodded. He was curious about the compass, and even more curious about meeting Professor Nightingale.

“Do you think he’ll know anything about your parents?” Esther asked.

Oliver felt a little lump form in his throat. He swallowed. “I don’t want to get my hopes up. But all the signs are leading me here. So I’m optimistic.”

Esther grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

They reached the end of the bridge and headed along the main road. The traffic was very busy here, so they took one of the many side alleys that ran parallel to it.

They were only halfway along the alley when Oliver noticed a group of boys, a little older in age than him and Esther, lingering together in the shadows. He felt an instant stab of danger.

As he and Esther got closer to the group, the boys suddenly looked up and fixed their eyes on them. They began to nudge each other and whisper, clearly talking about Oliver and Esther. Their mean glares made it obvious they weren’t friendly.

“Uh-oh, looks like trouble,” Esther said, clearly having spotted them as well.

Oliver recalled the bullies he’d dealt with back at Campbell Junior High. He didn’t feel anywhere near as daunted approaching the kids as he once would have been. But he felt Esther draw closer to him. She seemed intimidated.

“Nice overalls!” one of the boys sneered.

The others began to laugh.

“What are you?” chimed in the next. “A chimney sweep or something?”

Oliver kept his eyes averted. He hurried his pace. Beside him, Esther did the same.

“Hey!” the first boy shouted. “I’m talking to you!”

Suddenly, the group surrounded them. There were five boys in total, forming a circle around Oliver and Esther. Esther looked extremely stressed by the situation.

“Please,” she whispered to Oliver under her breath. “No fighting. I don’t think my shield is strong enough for five.”

But Oliver was calm. He’d seen Esther’s strength. And he had his powers, too. Between the two of them, no one could hurt them. No mortal, anyway.

Oliver kept his chin high. “Excuse me,” he said, politely. “Please let us through.”

The main boy, the tallest of the bunch, folded his arms. “Not until you empty your pockets. Come on.” He held his palm out. “Cell phone. Wallet. Hand it over.”

Oliver stood his ground. He spoke in a cool, determined voice. “I don’t have a cell phone or a wallet. And even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you.”

From beside him, Oliver heard Esther’s voice, barely above a whisper. “Oliver. Don’t provoke them.”

The main boy barked out a laugh. “Oh really? Then I’ll just have to get them myself.”

He went to lunge for Oliver.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Oliver said.

Immediately, Esther cast out one of her shields, providing a barrier around them. The boy slammed into it. He looked confused. He tried again, lunging forward. But the impenetrable barrier stopped him, like bulletproof glass.