Chapter 12

Nexus Mapping Sequence

9422 5588 – song – Dr. Dog – Jackie Wants a Black Eye

6369 7778 – film – The Fugitive (1993)

5555 0912 – song – Arcade Fire – Keep the Car Running

* Nexus Mapping Sequence media is provided to support chapter contents.

Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone as the weight of their situation pressed down on him. They needed to find more of the kids Aisha had mentioned, but the practicalities of doing so seemed impossible. His mother’s repeated calls haunted him, vibrating through his pocket like a guilty conscience. Finally, unable to wait any longer, he hit redial and braced for impact.

“Where the hell have you been?” Rachel’s voice exploded through the receiver, sharp and panicked.

“Sorry, Mom,” Ethan said, his voice strained but steady. “Something important came up, and I needed to take care of it. I’m okay, I promise. Will’s with me. We’re safe.”

“Safe?!” Rachel’s voice cracked, and Ethan flinched. “Your face is plastered all over the news, Ethan! They’re saying you killed people—people, Ethan!”

“What?!” Ethan shot up from the bed, his pulse spiking. “That’s insane! I haven’t killed anyone.”

“Then come home, Ethan,” Rachel pleaded. Her voice softened with desperation. “We’ll figure this out together. Just come home.”

Ethan clenched his jaw, torn between the longing to reassure his mother and the knowledge that he couldn’t go back. “I can’t, Mom,” he said quietly. “You have to trust me. I didn’t kill anyone, but I can’t come home right now.”

Before Rachel could respond, Ethan ended the call. His chest heaved as guilt and frustration swirled inside him. He walked into the living room, where the others were gathered, and turned on the TV.

“We have a problem,” he announced grimly.

As he flipped through channels, his worst fears were confirmed. Every station showed their faces—Ethan’s, Alex’s, Marco’s, Bobbi’s, Wolf’s, Akima’s, and even Nicole’s. The scrolling banner beneath the images accused them of multiple murders and the kidnapping of a child from Kentucky.

“That’s... not good,” Alex said, her voice trembling.

“It was bound to happen,” Akima said flatly, crossing her arms. “A manhunt was inevitable. Nothing like a nationwide dragnet to keep us on our toes.”

“So, what do we do now?” Ethan asked, his voice laced with urgency.

Will stood and turned the TV off with a decisive click. “We stick to the plan,” he said. “We find the other kids. But first, we need to ask ourselves: how safe are we here?”

Akima nodded. “We need to relocate and ditch our phones. With the FBI involved, they’ll be able to track us if we don’t.”

One by one, Akima went around collecting phones. When she reached Nicole, the young girl clutched hers protectively.

“My parents just got me this phone,” Nicole protested. “I had to do chores for three months to earn it.”

“We should’ve gotten rid of these yesterday,” Akima said firmly.

Nicole looked to Ethan, her eyes pleading. “We’ll get you a new one when this is over,” Ethan promised.

Reluctantly, Nicole handed over her phone. Akima walked to the cabin door, placed her hand on the frame, and opened a gateway. A blast of icy wind swept through the room, carrying snowflakes with it. Without hesitation, she tossed the phones into the Antarctic wasteland and slammed the door shut.

Akima opened another portal and stepped through, leaving the group behind. Will opened his mouth to protest but stopped as the door closed behind her.

“Guess she knows what she’s doing,” Marco muttered.

Moments later, the door reopened, and Akima stepped back in, flanked by two new kids. A young boy with messy brown hair and a girl with braids glanced nervously around the cabin.

“Everyone, this is Anders and Monique,” Akima said.

“Woah, woah,” Will said, holding up a hand. “You can’t just grab kids like that. We should’ve discussed this first.”

The two newcomers looked visibly shaken until they spotted Nicole. She ran to them with a smile, and the tension eased.

“Sorry for the abrupt introduction,” Ethan said, stepping forward. “We need your help.”

Nicole quickly filled them in. “I already told them about the crystal and the whole ‘world destruction’ thing.”

“How did we get here?” Monique asked, still staring at the now-closed doorway.

“That abrasive woman is Akima,” Ethan said with a shrug. “She can open portals anywhere in the world.”

“Cool,” Anders said, his voice tinged with awe.

“Sorry to cut this short,” Will interrupted, his voice firm. “We need to move. Any ideas on where we should go?”

“If the FBI is after us, we need somewhere outside their jurisdiction,” Bobbi suggested.

“That’s not enough,” Akima said, her tone pragmatic. “The leukocytes have reach far beyond the U.S. We’ll need to stay mobile.”

“I want you to search every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, and doghouse,” Marco declared in his best Tommy Lee Jones voice.

The room went silent, everyone staring blankly at him.

“Seriously? None of you have seen The Fugitive?” Marco asked, exasperated.

Will smirked. “I didn’t kill my wife.”

Marco grinned. “I don’t care.”

“Can we get serious?” Ethan said, rubbing his temples.

“Sorry,” Marco muttered, hiding a chuckle.

“We should gateway hop wherever we go,” Akima said, cutting through the levity.

“What’s gateway hopping?” Anders asked.

“It’s when we move through several portals to throw off anyone tracking us,” Ethan explained.

“Shouldn’t we find the other kids first?” Will asked. “Nicole, do you know where they are?”

Nicole nodded. “Sophia’s in New York, and Emily’s in some tiny town in Texas.”

“Can you be more specific?” Marco asked.

“I could call them,” Nicole said pointedly, glaring at Akima. “But someone threw my phone into Antarctica.”

Without hesitation, Wolf waved his hands and recreated Nicole’s phone. He handed it to her, smiling proudly, and returned to the couch.

Nicole blinked at the phone in her hands. “Thanks?” she said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Guess we’ve got some calls to make,” Ethan said, bracing himself for the next step in their mission.

“Whoa,” Monique exclaimed, her eyes wide. “How did you do that?”

“Apparently, they can create things out of nowhere,” Nicole replied, holding up her recreated phone.

“Well, not all of us,” Bobbi added, leaning back with a smirk.

Nicole turned the phone over in her hands, inspecting it carefully. It was identical to the one Akima had tossed into Antarctica, right down to the colorful stickers on the case. She turned it on, her curiosity giving way to excitement, and quickly dialed Sophia’s number. Setting the phone on speaker, she waited, bouncing on her toes.

“Hello?” came a voice from the phone.

“Hey, girl!” Nicole said, her tone suddenly shifting into the bubbly, exaggerated persona she used online. “It’s me, Nicky Ninety-Nine!”

Ethan blinked at the transformation, shooting Marco a bewildered look. Marco shrugged and mimed an overly enthusiastic TikTok dance.

“Oh my gosh, hey, girl!” Sophia replied, her voice bright. “You’re all over the news! Are you okay?”

“Me? Oh, I’m great. It’s all fake news, you know?” Nicole said, brushing it off with practiced ease. “But seriously, it’s been the craziest day. Remember that crystal we saw? The one tied to the end of the world?”

“Uh, yeah, how could I forget?” Sophia said. “You think I’d just forget something like that?”

“Well, here’s the thing,” Nicole said, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “We need your help. Looks like we’re the only ones who can handle it.”

“I’m in,” Sophia said without hesitation. “What do you need?”

“We’re building a team,” Nicole said, her enthusiasm rising. “Ready to kick some serious butt?”

“Oh, hell yeah!” Sophia said, her excitement matching Nicole’s. “Where can I find you?”

“No need,” Nicole said, flashing a grin at Akima. “We’ll find you. Just tell me where you are.”

“I’m in my bedroom,” Sophia said.

Nicole turned to Akima, who raised an eyebrow. “We need more than that,” Akima whispered.

“What if I show you?” Nicole asked, switching to a video chat. A moment later, Sophia’s face filled the screen.

“Let me see your room,” Nicole said.

Sophia turned the camera, panning around a modest bedroom with light purple walls and fairy lights strung across the ceiling. Akima stepped forward, studying the video closely before walking to the nearest door. She opened it, revealing Sophia’s bedroom in real-time.

Ethan couldn’t help but grin as Akima vanished through the doorway on the phone screen, only to reappear moments later in the cabin with Sophia in tow.

“What is going on?” Sophia exclaimed, her voice rising in confusion as she looked around.

“It’s okay, girl,” Nicole said, rushing to her side to calm her down.

“Why don’t you just text Emily?” Alex suggested to Nicole. “Find out where she is.”

Moments later, Nicole bounced on her heels. “Got it!” she announced, her excitement contagious. “Emily lives in a place called Lamesa.”

“Where’s that?” Ethan asked.

Nicole pulled up a map, pointing to a tiny dot in the middle of West Texas. “It’s about 300 miles west of Dallas. In the middle of nowhere.”

“Perfect,” Marco said. “Maybe we should hole up there for a while. West Texas is pretty remote.”

“My uncle lives in Lubbock,” Alex said. “It’s like driving through a desert to get there. It could work.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Will agreed. “Though I’d say let’s gear up, but none of you have anything to gear up with.”

Akima didn’t wait for more discussion. She opened a portal, revealing the same icy wasteland as before.

“Noooo,” Nicole protested as Akima reached for her phone. “Just a little longer, please?”

Ignoring her, Akima tossed the phone into the snow and swiftly closed the door. Moments later, she opened another portal to a jungle teeming with vibrant greenery.

“Keep up, and stay sharp,” Akima said, leading the group through gateway after gateway.

They passed through bustling streets in Tokyo, the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and serene meadows in New Zealand. Ethan felt a pang of longing to stop and explore each place, but Will hurried them along.

Finally, they emerged on a dusty street in Lamesa, standing outside a mechanic shop. The dry air was heavy with the scent of oil and rubber. Marco froze, staring up at something towering above them.

“What in the world is that?” he asked.

Ethan followed Marco’s gaze to a fifteen-foot statue of a woman in a black-and-gold cheerleader outfit standing in front of the mechanic shop. Her exaggerated features and eerie smile gave her James Bond villain vibes.

“That’s... unsettling,” Ethan muttered.

“I feel like she’s staring into my soul,” Marco added.

“I think I’m in love,” Bobbi said, grinning.

“Focus!” Will barked, cutting off their banter. “Wolf, can you make us a van?”

Wolf waved his arms, and a large van materialized. Ethan blinked—it looked exactly like his aunt’s minivan from his childhood, complete with captain’s chairs and a faint smell of old upholstery.

Nicole led them through the streets until they reached Emily’s house. As they debated the best approach to speak with her parents, Akima, true to form, walked straight into the house. Minutes later, she returned, a short, blond-haired girl trailing behind her.

“You need to stop doing that,” Will said, exasperated. “That’s not how we handle things.”

“You all talk too much,” Akima retorted with a shrug.

Ethan sighed, watching as Emily adjusted to her surroundings with Nicole’s help. It wasn’t ideal, but it was progress. Slowly but surely, they were assembling their team—and with it, a sliver of hope.

With Emily in tow, the group drove off. Will took the wheel, heading west in search of a quiet, isolated place to regroup. After a while, they turned onto a remote country road, and the landscape around them opened up—nothing but wide open space for miles.

"This looks like as good a place as any," Will said, pulling over.

Ethan glanced around, taking in the barren stretch of land. "Where are we all going to sleep?"

Before anyone could respond, Wolf stepped out of the van and started waving his arms. In a matter of seconds, an exact replica of Will’s cabin appeared before them. The group stepped out, still stunned by the ease with which Wolf replicated their home. Will walked inside, and as he took in the familiar surroundings, he nodded in approval.

"This will do," he said.

"I think we need to push your skills to the limit, Wolf," Marco said, stretching his arms as he stepped out of the van. "I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving."

“I was thinking the same thing,” Ethan said, raising an eyebrow. “Can you make food?”

"Only one way to find out," Wolf replied with a grin.

Once inside, Wolf stood at the table, his arms raised. The room seemed to hum with energy as, to everyone’s amazement, a large pepperoni pizza materialized right before their eyes. The mouthwatering aroma of fresh pizza filled the room as the steam rose from the perfectly baked pie.

Marco, never one to hesitate when it came to food, grabbed a slice and took a huge bite. The others watched with bated breath, unsure of what might happen next. A few moments later, Marco’s eyes widened, and he suddenly started choking. Panic surged through Ethan’s chest as he watched his friend collapse to the floor, struggling for air.

Before anyone could react, Marco leapt back up, grinning like a madman.

"You jerk!" Alex shouted, her voice full of relief and frustration.

"Sorry," Marco said, still laughing. "The pizza’s fine. Well done, Wolf."

The group chuckled nervously, relieved. Wolf, however, still looked concerned. Marco walked over and threw an arm around him.

"Hey, man, sorry if I freaked you out," Marco said sincerely. "You did great."

"I was so scared," Wolf admitted. "I thought I had killed you."

"Sorry, man," Marco said, rubbing his neck. "I was just messing around. Didn't mean to scare you."

As the others ate, Ethan stood and grabbed a slice before slipping into the back room. The stress of the day was catching up with him, and for the first time since this whole ordeal began, he allowed himself a moment of introspection. He had spent the last three days running, fighting, and trying to make sense of everything. Now, he had to be the leader of a group of frightened, confused kids and adults alike.

But how? He wasn’t equipped for this.

Three days ago, he was aimlessly stumbling through life, and now... now, he had to lead.

His mind spiraled as he wondered if he even had the right to be the one in charge. Could he really carry the weight of the world on his shoulders?

Ethan’s fingers brushed the iPod his father had given him. He pulled it out, hoping that maybe, just maybe, his father’s next track would provide some guidance.

The familiar voice crackled through the speakers.

"This next song is a new one," his dad said. "Well, it’s new to me. When I heard it, I just knew I needed to add it. I don’t know much about this band, but this song is amazing."

The music started, and Ethan was surprised to find he actually liked it. It was unfamiliar, but its rhythm hit him in a way that felt right.

As the song faded, his dad’s voice returned.

“Sorry, I was so excited to play this one for you," his dad said. "I didn’t even talk about the song. The song’s called Jackie Wants a Black Eye by Dr. Dog. I really wanted to play this for you because it means something to me. It resonates.”

Ethan nodded, feeling a connection to his dad’s words. He understood it now—the song was about people coming together, even in their brokenness.

“The line that keeps ringing in my head is ‘we’re all in it together now as we all fall apart.’ Sometimes I feel like everything’s falling apart, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have value. Even when we’re broken, we’ve got to lean on each other.”

Ethan felt tears welling up in his eyes as his dad’s words hit home. He had been lost for so long, wandering aimlessly, unsure of what he was meant to do. Now, the weight of everything was on him, and he didn’t know how to carry it.

“We have to lean on each other,” his dad continued. “We’re all just trying to get through this life, and it’s easier when you have someone on your side. Don’t be afraid to share your doubts. We’re all in this together.”

The tears finally came, and Ethan allowed himself to cry, overwhelmed by the sense of being understood, even if his father wasn’t physically there. He wiped his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, before returning to the living room.

“So, I’ve been thinking about everything,” Ethan said, his voice unsteady. As he looked around, he saw the others watching him with expectant eyes. “First, I just want to say I’m scared. This feels like a lot, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“We all are, man,” Marco said, giving him an understanding nod. “I don’t think anyone here isn’t scared about what’s coming next. Well, except maybe Akima.”

Akima shot Marco a menacing look, making him shrink back. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she smiled.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile once,” Marco said, half-laughing, half-nervous.

“I smile,” Akima said with a shrug, though the hint of a smile remained on her lips.

“Yeah, sure, you smile,” Marco teased. “Just don’t kill me.”

The group chuckled, but Ethan could sense the underlying tension in the room. Each of them had been drastically affected by what had happened in such a short amount of time.

“Each of our lives has been completely turned upside down by this Aisha woman,” Ethan continued. “She told us the world was in danger, but she didn’t give us much to go on. All I know is that we’re being hunted, and one wrong move, and we’re toast. And that scares the crap out of me.”

He looked around the room, locking eyes with each person. They were all in this together. They all had their doubts, their fears—but they were a team, and that’s what mattered.

“I’m scared,” Ethan repeated, his voice quieter. “But I know that as long as we’re together, we’ll be okay. We’ll find the other two kids, and I’m sure the answers will come. We can do this because we’re together.”