When All is Null and Void

Chapter Fourteen

The ground trembled under Caleb as Alexander ran over, Hopping all but forgotten. "Oh good! You didn't pass out." He pulled Caleb up by the hand that hadn't slammed into a stick in the grass.

"What happened?" Caleb asked, shaking his head to clear the daze. He must've smacked it on the ground. Caleb wasn't seeing double, so that had to be a sign that no damage had actually been done, but he could add it to his long list of sore things.

"Happened?" Alexander scratched his head. "I think you confused it."

"Confused it?" Caleb replied. "How could I confuse it? I told it exactly what to do."

Alexander cocked eyebrow. "Are you sure? You flew like a pixie." He punctuated this by flapping his arms by his side, though he looked more like a chicken than a pixie.

Caleb coughed a laugh. Although he was still dribbling blood, and a big splinter had lodged in his hand, Caleb was determined. "Let's go again," he said.

"Whoa there." Alexander held up a hand. "We should probably call it quits for the today. You've already almost killed yourself once. I don't want you to actually die. Too much paperwork."

Caleb shoved Alexander on the shoulder. "Shut up."

Alexander groaned. "Abuse. I'm going to have to tell Rhea this."

Caleb scoffed, walking back into the house. "They didn't tell you that? I've got a pretty long track record."

They laughed all the way to the couch. Caleb hobbled the entire way, rather like an old man. They sat and watched a sit-com that was far better than anything Caleb had seen on the Holos back home. This had heart, the actors weren't fake. Substance, story. He was fully sucked into Hannah Montana.

+++

On the third day, Caleb accomplished a spatial Hop. Of course, "accomplished" was a relatively loose term, because Caleb lost his right ear in the process. The hook from his belly had become an invisible scythe lashing across his head with the strength of five heavyweight champions. Sure, Caleb made it across the yard. Sure, he was in the exact spot he was supposed to be in, but he was flat on his back, eyes on the gray sky, with a gaping hole in the left side of his face.

But Caleb had done it, gushing blood and all.

Alexander gave him a pep talk before the whole dour situation had occurred. "You're not the only person who's thought they could perfect a Spatial Hop in one day. I promise you it gets easier."

"I believe you," Caleb said, "but I'm still frustrated."

"Okay," Alexander said, placing two hands onto Caleb's shoulders. He looked Caleb in the eyes and said, "Empty your mind of everything. You can't be distracted. It doesn't work." He waited a moment. "Did you do it?"

"Yes," Caleb said.

"Now focus." Alexander stepped away, but Caleb let that slip away. He was fully focused on the patch of grass. The gentle bend of the blades filled his mind, the dew dripping in slow, languorous beats. The warmth flared, but as Caleb began to follow the hook, the image was replaced by another: Fire.

Which is what led to this very moment, Alexander searching the grass for Caleb's ear, while Caleb himself experienced the worst ear ache ever.

"Can't have gone too far," Alexander's voice seemed far away and Caleb instinctively reached to poke at his ear. Caleb cursed as his fingers grazed the gaping flesh.

He wasn't sure how long it took, but eventually Caleb's earhole stopped bleeding, and he sat up, leaning against the side of the house and the dizziness from missing a vital part of his body sent shivers down Caleb's spine. He took slow, steadying breaths. Alexander ran out of the house and in his hand held a bloodless, perfect ear.