Future Lost

PART I THE PRESENT WEDNESDAY I don’t feel safe anymore unless I’m holding a gun in my hand. Boom. The air smells of gunpowder, but the sound is muffled by my headset. Boom. Right in the chest. I line up the next shot. Boom. That one’s in the head. A little to the right of where I aimed, but that’s why I practice every week. I’ve shot two people before. One by accident. One on purpose. I don’t regret pulling the trigger either time. I’ll do it again if I have to—and I won’t miss. The weapon is a familiar, comforting weight in my hand, yet I also loathe it. I never touched a gun until a year ago. I wish I could live the rest of my life without firing one again. But after what I’ve lived through, I need to be able to defend myself and the people I care about. Call it paranoia, call it being prepared, but I’m going to be ready for whatever comes next. Fluorescent lights illuminate the narrow alley as I square my feet and take aim. I fire until the gun is empty and the target is littered with holes. I’ve been coming to this range for months. The orange paper man never stood a chance. Out of ammo, I step back and check the aisles on either side of me. To my left, Zahra fires her last couple rounds into a target as tortured as mine. On my right, Paige grins while every single one of her bullets hits the exact center of the target’s head. She’d never shot a gun before I invited her to the range a few months ago, but she’s already better than me and Zahra. When the girls are finished, we gather up our equipment, grab our targets, and step out of the range. Once the door shuts, we take off our headsets and shake out our hair. Zahra eyes Paige’s bullet-ridden target. “You sure you weren’t on the Olympic shooting team instead of the gymnastics one? There’s no way you can be that good already.” “You’re just jealous of my mad skills.” Paige flips back her blond hair with a grin before skipping over to Rob, the guy behind the counter of the gun shop. Zahra and I roll our eyes, but follow her to hand over our rented gear. “Stay safe, ladies,” Rob says when we’re done checking out. He’s an older white guy with a big, bushy beard and always wears a flannel shirt, but he has a kind smile and has always made me and Zahra feel welcome here. Since I’m Mexican-American and Zahra is Iranian-American, that’s not always the case, especially at places like gun ranges. I’ve been called a chola or a gangbanger, while Zahra’s often labeled a terrorist the second she walks in. We’ve been told to go back where we came from more times than we can count, even though we were both born here in Los Angeles. We wave good-bye to Rob and head to the parking lot, where our cars are lined up under a palm tree. A cool ocean breeze ruffles my dark hair. It’s one of those perfect LA days when the sky is so clear and blue it doesn’t look real, when it’s warm enough to go out in a T-shirt and flip-flops, but not hot enough to make you sweat. The kind of day you take for granted when you live here, except on those rare moments when you can stop, take a breath, and realize how lucky you are to be alive. I’m trying to take more of those moments, to commit them to memory instead of all the bad images crowding my head. I’ll never get rid of those memories, but maybe I can shove them aside with better ones. I lean against my car, gripping my keys. “Have you seen anything strange lately? Cars following you or people hanging outside your apartment?” Zahra immediately scans the street around us, but I’ve already checked, and we’re alone. No black cars. No strange men listening in. “Nope. Have you?” “No.” Ever since Aether kidnapped me and forced me to time travel into the future for the second time, I’ve been paranoid they’ll try it again. They haven’t yet, but I’ll be looking out for them for the rest of my life. Paige shrugs. “Maybe they’re keeping their promise to leave us alone.” My mouth twists into a scowl. “Maybe they’re being more discreet this time.” “No one is getting near us without me knowing it.” Zahra’s dark eyes study the street again. “But I can go over our security if you’re worried.” A few months ago, Zahra set up special firewalls on all our computers and installed security systems at our apartments with cameras and alarms. I trust her skills and expertise, but Aether has a lot more resources. I zip up my hoodie. “I’m always worried. If they come after us, I want to be prepared.” Paige rests a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll be ready.” I nod, but I can’t shake the feeling that Aether isn’t done with us yet. These past few months have been too calm, too easy, too quiet. “Will I see you both tonight?” I ask as I unlock my car. It’s the one-year anniversary of when I met Adam and Chris, and the six-month anniversary of when I met Zahra, Paige, and Ken. I’m throwing a little get-together at my apartment for all the time travelers—although I’m still not sure if it’s to celebrate or to mourn. A little of both, perhaps. “We’ll be there,” Zahra says. “Can’t wait,” Paige says, then gives me one of her enthusiastic hugs. I should be used to them by now, but it still takes me by surprise. We break apart, and the two of them get into Paige’s car to head to the apartment they share. I watch as the car leaves the lot and turns the corner, making sure they’re not followed before starting my own.