Chapter 7 – Revelation
Jayden's POV
Since yesterday, I've decided I need to experience Serenity in the few days I have left here. I'm completely freaking out inside, but I need to just take some time to try and calm down. So today, I'm sitting on the brown wooden bench on the cliff at the edge of Main Street, overlooking the ocean.
I take Koala Storm Caller out of my pocket and flip it open to where I left off yesterday. It feels great out here in the sun, especially with the cool breeze. Usually, I'd never take a book outside—the idea of getting bugs on it or otherwise dirty terrifies me—but under the circumstances, I'm living on the edge.
I read two chapters of my book before bookmarking my page and putting it away in my pocket, breathing a sigh of exhilaration. It's starting to get good; I want to finish it today, while I'm still alive to read it.
Approaching the log fence blocking people from walking right off the cliff, I look down into the crystal blue waters below. You get a really great unobstructed view from up here. I never really realized that until now.
I think about what Viridian told me earlier today, everything concerning the visitor and her offer. I don't want to leave Serenity; who knows what that isolated town I'd be forced into is like? I doubt it would be pleasant. But wouldn't it be selfish of myself to not give myself up? If we're going to end up with a horrible fate no matter what, shouldn't we take the option that gives the other people here a better life? Everyone in town probably knows about the offer now. How would they react if we refuse? Accepting the offer would be the right thing to do.
So why am I so against the idea of going?
I sigh as I turn away and start to head back to town, trying to dismiss my thoughts. I go down Main Street and see the revolving door of T&T Emporium spin around. Out walks Vivian, carrying a couple paper bags of flower seeds from Leif's section (I wish he'd focus more on the tests than running his store—not many people would be shopping today, anyway) as well as a plastic bag with the GracieGrace logo on it. I shake my head; why would anyone shop for flowers and expensive furniture at a time like this?
"Oh, hello, Jayden," Vivian says to me.
"Oh, uh, hi," I say, surprised she's talking to me.
"GracieGrace has a sale going on," she informs me, as if she thinks I'm interested. "Ten percent off everything in the store. I picked up this gorgeous dress, but I have so much already that I probably won't even be able to wear it for a month."
"Oh, cool," I say, not knowing how to reply. I'm not really paying attention, anyway.
Suddenly, the door spins around again, only this time, Leif comes out.
"I finished my tests!" he half-shouts. "Exactly seven days left until the town tree dies!"
My heart plummets at this startling realization. "A week?" I ask incredulously. "Didn't you say, like, three weeks before?" Leif shakes his head.
"I said less than three weeks," he replies. "I didn't know exactly how long, but considering the circumstances, we're lucky we even have this much. I won't even be able to make any sort of antidote."
"What circumstances?" asks Vivian. Leif shakes his head again.
"I'm sorry, but I have to talk to Isabelle as soon as possible," he says. "I promised her she'd be the first to know anything I found out." He scurries off, moving much faster than I've ever seen him. I follow him across the train tracks, having nothing left to do on Main Street.
In fact, I have nothing to do, period. Just read my book. That's the only thing on the agenda. And honestly, I feel like I've been outside enough today, so I decide to go home and lie on my sofa.
Just as I cross the suspension bridge to get to my house, I see Lucy a little ways away, who waves me over.
"Hey, Jayden!" she says. "Guess what?"
"What?" I ask.
"I paid off my mortgage!" Lucy says excitedly. "I finally got around to it, and I get my room expanded tomorrow!"
"Oh, that's great!" I say. I generally pay off my mortgages as soon as I make enough money, and I actually have three extra full-size rooms on the main floor plus an upstairs room at this point. I'm only missing a basement at this point, but I don't think now's the time to brag.
"Thanks, Jayden," says Lucy. "It's so exciting!"
As she walks away happily, the smile I was wearing slips off my face as I start thinking.
Why would Vivian have gone shopping for flowers and bought expensive clothing? Why would she buy a dress that she couldn't wear until next month when she already knew we'd have less than three weeks left? Why did Lucy pay off her mortgage now, when she'll have less than a week with her expanded house? It all seems so pointless. Perhaps they're just really confident Kelsea's group will be successful. But then a darker, paranoid thought creeps into my mind.
Maybe they're counting on being here a lot longer not because of faith in Kelsea, but because they believe a certain snooty anteater is going to give them the cure.
And for that to happen…
-x-
"What?" asks Viridian in disbelief.
"I don't know," I say, looking down at the floor of Viridian's house. I haven't been in here in a while. It's a lot cleaner than I thought it would be. "Maybe I'm paranoid because of Snooty's offer. But after seeing both Lucy and Vivian… I mean, there's got to be a logical explanation, right?"
"Yeah, you're right," says Viridian. "We should talk to Isabelle. Maybe she can do something to protect us."
"Um, I don't know about that," I say. "Isabelle would benefit from us leaving, too. And we could just be paranoid right now. I think we should just wait for Kelsea. If anyone can do something for us, it's her. We don't even know if our neighbours are even trying to do anything yet."
"Better too early than too late," Viridian says darkly.
"Let's just wait for Kelsea to come back first," I say. "Maybe they had a stroke of luck. I'm sure Isabelle is fine, but I don't know… I just trust Kelsea more at the moment." Viridian shrugs.
"If that's what you want," he says doubtfully. "Right after they return."
