The Island on the Edge of Forever (The Epic of Aravinda Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“That’s all Outpost 33 is, Asha!”
    “That’s totally unfair and untrue!” Asha called back as she followed the path. “You know how important our work is.”
    Zahn ran after her. “You know what else isn’t fair? That I care so much about a person who’s terrified to get close to anyone!”
    “Stop it, Zahn! You’ve gone too far, and I’m not listening to this anymore.” Asha marched off even faster, but he ran to catch up with her.
    “Then tell me I’m wrong,” he said, calmer now. “Tell me you’re not afraid.”
    “I’m not, you idiot!” Although they walked side by side, she wouldn’t look at him.
    “I don’t believe you.”
    “Of course you don’t, Zahn! And I’m not surprised. You’ve become blind.” The words came out of her like venom, stinging Zahn’s face.
    Asha stopped walking, took a deep breath, and locked her eyes with his. “Look, I’m sorry if this doesn’t match your vision of the future, and if I were in your position I’d take stock of my life and refocus on what I want. New vision, new job, new—”
    “What?” Zahn stopped her. “Why would I need a new job?”
    “Didn’t you talk to your mo—” Asha froze and a sinking feeling formed in the pit of her stomach.
    “Talk to my mom about what?” Zahn’s eyes darted across her face. “What’s going on with my job, Asha?”
    Asha pursed her lips and looked away. “I’m not supposed to say anything.”
    “Oh, no.” The color left his face.
    Asha struggled for words. “Just… forget it.”
    A look of knowing came over Zahn’s face like a shadow.
    “It was my absence. I forgot to tell them, didn’t I?” He shook his head. “I forgot to tell them. I knew, Asha. I was going to, and I… I got the lens from the shelf, and I was going to message them. And Oonak came.”
    “You might be able to—I mean, your mom said—”
    Zahn shot her a fiery glance. “Do you know how long it takes to rebuild trust on an island, Asha?”
    “I’m sorry, Zahn.” She searched his face, but it had gone blank. “Is there anything I can do?”
    “Not anymore.”
    Without another word, he turned his back to her and walked directly into the thick of the forest.
    “Zahn! Where are you going?”
    He didn’t respond, continuing into the mass of blue leaves.
    “Hey, this isn’t the end! We still have a mission!” Her pleas seemed to be consumed by the forest itself. “Zahn, I’m sorry. Where are you going?”
    “I’m sorry, too,” she thought she heard him say, and he slowly dissolved into the blue.
    She brushed some leaves aside and stepped into the thick forest beside the path. Up ahead, she thought she heard the sound of footsteps, and as fast as possible she pushed through the mass of indigo vines and fallen trees.
    Asha froze, listening for a sound, but she couldn’t hear him.
    “Zahn!” she called out. “Running doesn’t help anyone!”
    She listened again, but all she could hear were the murmuring birds and the faint sound of waves crashing behind her. He grew up beside this forest. How could she possibly expect to find him if he didn’t want her to?
    The jungle towered all around Asha, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. How could she have done this? How could she have assumed that he’d talked to Darshana? Somehow, she’d managed to crush two of his dreams at once, and she wondered whether, given the same circumstances, she might run off into the forest, too.

CHAPTER4
     
    A MADMAN FULL OF ENERGY
     
     
    Zahn felt as though an eruption might explode out of his chest. In the space of an hour, Asha had rejected him and let slip that the observatory had rejected him, as well. He huffed and puffed in the crisp air. It was all he could do to keep from screaming.
    He knew the observatory policy, so he couldn’t say he was surprised. But how could he have forgotten to tell them he was leaving? Emergency leave was granted all the time. All he had to do was send one simple message.
    But he