Into the Beyond Books 1-3

Lewis didn’t know where to go. Andrew was bigger than him, and Lewis was only able to take him down because he caught him by surprise. He sprinted down the street towards his family’s house. He knew he couldn’t go in, though. The fire would be starting soon.

After writhing on the ground in pain for several moments, Andrew got back up on his feet and ran over to his car. Lewis heard the engine start back up and the headlights flooded the street. He knew he couldn’t outrun the car, but he could out maneuver it.

Before Andrew could even get close, Lewis changed direction and ran into a random yard. Thankfully, there was no fence. He ran past the house and straight through to the backyard of the house behind it. Andrew’s car screeched to a halt in the street. Lewis heard the car door open, but Andrew didn’t seem to be in the mood for a foot chase. The jock yelled angrily into the darkness but didn’t continue his pursuit.

Andrew’s black eye on the second day of school made a whole lot more sense now, as did his icy attitude towards Lewis.

Lewis waited until Andrew got back in his car and drove away before walking back to his street the long way around. When he passed his family’s house he could see the glow of flames growing in his bedroom window. A load pop sounded behind him, nearly making him jump out of his skin as a portal disintegrated.

Josie greeted him with a sad smile. “Mr. Gray ferried me here,” she said. “I guess I’ve gone back in time a little bit? You just left after helping clean up the broken window, but Gray said the other you is still over at my house right now.”

Lewis nodded. “I don’t make it back until after the fire department puts out the fire.” He pointed up at the flames.

“Wow,” said Josie. “That’s so crazy. No one has any idea yet?”

“Nope,” said Lewis. “I disabled the smoke detectors. Everyone’s in bed. They all make it out, though.”

“It feels so wrong,” said Josie, “just standing here, doing nothing.”

“Tell me about it,” said Lewis.

Even though he knew his family made it out alive, a nervous pinch in his abdomen wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw everyone come out safe with his own eyes. He glanced around for a moment before picking the perfect hiding spot to watch from—a tall Douglas fir growing in his neighbor’s front yard with branches ripe for climbing.

Lewis and Josie climbed up several tiers of branches before finding a seat where they could watch with impunity. Lewis couldn’t help but feel terribly sad as his room burned. All his childhood memories and keepsakes, his whole wardrobe and computer, all his toys and posters. His whole life was in that room. There would be nothing left.

Josie put her arm around Lewis. “It’s hard losing everything,” she said. “But you can start again. Rebuild.”

Lewis glanced over at her. He was losing all of his possessions, but his family would be fine. The house would get fixed. Josie really had lost everything after her car crash. Her whole life, gone in an instant. While comparing traumas never helped anybody, putting everything into perspective was important. Despite everything Josie had been through, here she was, trying to ease Lewis’s pain.

His heart ached, but it was not for himself. He turned slightly on the branch so that he was facing Josie a little more. “I don’t need any of that stuff,” he said, fixing his eyes upon hers.

“It’s still sad,” she said.

“I thought so too, at first,” he said. “But that fire is just a stepping stone to better things. Clearing out the clutter. I have everything I need right here.” The flames grew, enveloping the room. Lewis leaned in, kissing Josie softly on the corner of her mouth. She turned her head more, kissing him back desperately.

A scream sounded from inside the house—Jenny, noticing the smoke.

Josie pulled back from the kiss. Her eyes were wide. “I know you don’t remember us,” she said. “You don’t have to pity me.”

Lewis scoffed at the insinuation. “This isn’t pity,” he said. “I…. You’re something special. Extraordinary.” He shook his head. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I want to know us. I want to know everything. Feel everything.” He gripped her soft hand tightly as he spoke. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, inside and out.”

“You barely know me,” said Josie.

It was true. But Lewis knew what he felt. “I’m sorry I don’t remember our history,” he said, “but I will one day. I’m not going to pretend there’s nothing special between us in the meantime.”

Josie’s eyebrows unfurrowed as her mouth curled into a genuine heartfelt smile. Tears streamed down her face. Lewis held her in a tight hug, nearly knocking them both from the tree. Josie gripped onto the branch above them to steady their rocking.

“Fate is what you make it,” she said. “Things could change. The past, your future, could change. You may never have that time with me.”

Fate is what you make it. The same words that would be scrawled in blood across the wall of Josie’s bedroom. Lewis felt like he’d been punched in the heart. Josie was right. Nothing was certain—not with the Agares involved.

“That’s all the more reason for us not to waste a single moment together,” he said.

Josie laid her head down on Lewis’s shoulder, nuzzling her hair against his neck. Lewis held onto her tight as they watched the flames dance.

The distant sound of sirens cut the silence of the night. Soon, Lewis’s mom and sister came scrambling outside in their pajamas. His mother was most distraught. Everyone thought Lewis was dead, trapped in his room. Jenny was holding Melon tight around his middle despite the cat’s protests. Lewis’s father came out last, shaking his head as he coughed terribly. He’d gone back for Lewis.

Josie and Lewis had to remain silent now to not drawn any attention to their hiding spot. Lewis felt terrible for his family. Everyone was holding each other on the front lawn, crying as the first fire truck came rolling up.

It had to happen this way…

It had to happen this way…

It had to happen this way…

He kept repeating it to himself in his head as he watched his family mourn his terrible death.