Yesterday Without Time in the amazing life of Kali

Chapter 2: WE GOOFED UP

It turned out we hadn’t gotten off at Lost Valley.

We were in Last Valley—two hours in the wrong direction.

The woman at the ticket counter didn’t even try to hide her sympathy when we asked about the next train. I knew it was bad before she spoke.

“The next train to Lost Valley isn’t until tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow.

Missi and I exchanged a look. We didn’t know anyone here. We weren’t from here. And posting our location online wasn’t an option—not when half the world thought our lives were glamorous and easy. Calling Ash felt worse.

He’d already warned us.

So we brainstormed. Out loud. Rapid-fire. Bad ideas, worse ideas, and finally one that might work.

A bus to Ludel.

Ludel was only one town over from Silverwood. Close enough that someone could pick us up. Close enough that we wouldn’t completely ruin Mom’s surprise by teleporting home.

We bought two tickets and, with a shared sigh, climbed onto the bus.

I called Ash and Ryan while we waited.

Ash hung up on me before I finished explaining.

Ryan laughed. Not cruelly—just that familiar, big-brother laugh that said this is exactly what I expected.

The bus ride was quiet at first. Missi and I were both annoyed—mostly at each other—but eventually we admitted the truth. We’d both been distracted. We’d both messed up.

By the time Ludel came into view, we were laughing again, already imagining how ridiculous this story would sound someday.

That laughter died the moment I saw Ash standing outside the bus station.

Ryan was beside him.

Ash’s posture was rigid, his jaw tight, his arms crossed like he was physically holding himself back. My stomach dropped.

As soon as we stepped off the bus, Ash started yelling.

He used my full name.

Every word felt like a slap—how careless we were, how stupid it was not to use our powers, how dangerous it was to travel like “normal people” when we clearly couldn’t manage it. People nearby slowed, stared, whispered.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

I hate being yelled at. Always have. My chest tightened, my hands shook, and I focused on breathing through the humiliation instead of crying.

Missi didn’t.

She stepped forward immediately.

“Stop,” she snapped. “You don’t get to talk to us like we’re children. We’re adults. You don’t scream at adults.”

That only made it worse.

Ash shot back that this wasn’t a simple mistake—that losing keys was a mistake, not getting off at the wrong station. That we were irresponsible. That something terrible could have happened to us.

My vision blurred.

I felt my ring warm against my finger, the faintest pulse beneath the metal—too subtle for anyone else to notice, but impossible for me to ignore.

Missi fired back, furious now. She called him out for yelling in public, for acting like anger was the only emotion he knew how to express. She said he should try being sensitive instead of cruel.

Ash lost it.

“That’s it,” he shouted. “I’m done. I’m done with both of you.”

Then, looking straight at me, voice sharp as broken glass:

“KALI, I’M NEVER HELPING YOU AGAIN.”

He stormed off, tires screeching as he peeled out of the parking lot.

Ryan said nothing. I could tell he was holding himself back—if he’d said a word, fists would’ve followed, and none of us needed that.

For a moment, everything was quiet.

Then something strange happened.

Missi, Ryan, and I all froze at the same time.

Did you just think—

—that wasn’t normal, right?

We stared at each other, realization flickering between us.

Whatever had just happened, whatever had passed silently between our minds, it wasn’t supposed to be possible.

But no one said it out loud.

Not yet.