CXLIX

Two years, six months, and six days after Henry's disappearance

(continued)

The man in front of me shook his head with a resigned expression. "To think you'd uncover me because of something like that…"

"Where is Henry?" I interrupted him—that was all I cared about.

In response, he merely offered me a weary smile. "I once dreamed that my Eleven would look at me like this. The way you looked at me before you figured me out."

I frowned, frustrated. It was as if we were having two entirely different conversations.

Taking advantage of my distraction, this imitation closed the distance between us in just a couple of strides and caught my right hand between his own.

I was just about to use my powers when he suddenly dropped to his knees, his lips pressing against my fingers. "Why won't you choose me?" he asked then. "I could be him. In fact, I already am—just a different version."

The mere thought was offensive. With a sharp tug, I pulled my hand away. "You will never be him," I replied. And then, seizing his attention, I pressed on: "Where is Henry?"

He fell silent, his eyes studying me intently. My heart pounded in my throat, terrified of his answer.

"Safe," he finally said. "But he can't come to you yet."

Perhaps because this man was—by his own admission—also a Henry, I could hear the sincerity in his voice. Relief surged through me, and I placed a hand over my chest. He, in turn, got to his feet and lightly dusted off his knees to rid his pants of the grass.

"That's good," I replied with a shaky smile. Quickly, I wiped at my eyes, chasing away the tears of relief that threatened to spill over. "It's fine," I repeated. "I can go find him myself."

This other Henry held my gaze for a long moment before finally sighing. "Fire," he said suddenly. He must have noticed my confusion because he added, "Fire is the weakness of the creatures from the other dimension."

If this was true… I clenched my fists, uneasy. Yes, it had to be true; once again, deep in my chest, I felt that the man in front of me wasn't lying.

If this was true… then my family would have a way to defend themselves, even without me.

Still, though I didn't doubt him, I had to ask: "Why are you telling me this?"

At my question, this Henry merely shrugged. "Unlike him, I can move undetected across dimensions. I promised him I'd bring you this message."

"And you tried to deceive me," I pointed out the obvious.

My accusation didn't faze him. He simply tilted his head, a half-smile on his face. He said nothing, but I recalled his words from earlier: "Well, he did warn me."

"He hasn't noticed it yet," he murmured into the night. "The way you look at him, I mean."

Heat flared across my cheeks at his words. What was I supposed to say to that?

"It's time for me to go," he announced suddenly, straightening up, his gaze drifting toward the faint golden lights beginning to streak the navy blue sky.

"Tell him I'm coming for him," I asked. "Please."

He tapped one of his dimples twice with his index finger. "Hm. I'll consider it."

I was about to press him, but the reality around us began to shift, unraveling into wisps of smoke.

And then, before I could even register what was happening, I woke up—the echo of his words still vibrating in my mind.