Free Between by Megan Whitmer

against the bookshelf. “It’s seven here, but almost one o’clock in the morning to you.”
    Impossible. Four hours ago, Sam and I were sitting on the front porch, trading bracelets. I run my fingers over the silver beads, remembering the way Sam’s face lit up when he saw the guitar pick.
    There’s a knock at the door, and Seth pushes off the shelf with a grin. He’s halfway across the room before I make it off my bed. “That must be Adele and Sam,” he says.
    They’re here!
    I hop off the bed and run to the door, ready to throw my arms around them in a hug that would bring every other hug in the history of hugs to shame.
    Seth places a hand on the door, and it slides open. A towering man in my doorway stops me in my tracks.
    He’s at least a foot taller than Seth and almost twice as wide, with the dark, hardened skin of someone who’s spent some time in the elements. Thick blond hair streaked with silver flows freely past his shoulders and down his back, like the pictures of Vikings I’ve seen in history books. He’s dressed like one too, wearing brown pants tucked into tall leather boots and a long gray tunic with a drawstring tied around his middle. His shoulders are broad, his arms enormous. His eyes are his most striking feature, a vibrant mix of green and yellow. The peculiar color practically glows against his tanned skin. It’s all at once beautiful and unsettling.
    Nothing about him looks huggable.
    Seth’s posture straightens. “Alexander! Come in! I didn’t expect to see you tonight!”
    The surprised expression on Seth’s face makes me feel somewhat better about the fact that I’m staring. I have never seen such a large person in my life.
    I clamp my mouth shut and pull my shoulders back. No. More. Gawking.
    Alexander ducks his head as he steps inside, shrinking the room. He nods at Seth, then turns his attention to me. Something like a smile happens on my lips, but I’m not entirely sure it’s believable. This man is the very definition of intimidating. He holds my gaze, and I have no idea where to look.
    Sam and I found a stray dog in the barn once. When we tried to get close, it bared its teeth and chased us all the way up the hill to the house. We’d practically leapfrogged over each other to get inside the door. Mom told us to never look a strange animal in the eye because they might consider it a threat. I’ve never forgotten that.
    On the other hand, she also told us it’s respectful to maintain eye contact when you’re dealing with people so they know you’re paying attention.
    I can’t decide if Alexander is more human or animal.
    “Hello, Charlotte,” the giant man says, his yellow-green eyes bearing down on me.
    “Hello,” I say, but it comes out like a whisper. I take a deep breath and raise my voice a bit. “It’s nice to meet you.” I force myself to blink, breaking away from his eyes. I don’t even correct him on his use of “Charlotte.” I lift my hand in a tiny wave and immediately regret it. I should’ve shaken his hand or nodded at him or something. A wave is far too frivolous.
    Seth clears his throat. “Charlie, I’d like you to meet Alexander, one of the Fellowship’s founders. If Principal Command is Congress, then Alexander is the President.”
    Alexander nods at me, his eyes barely softening, before he looks back to Seth. “We have a situation.”
    “What’s wrong?” Seth asks.
    “Adele hasn’t crossed into Ellauria yet.”
    The weight that had lifted before comes crashing down again, stealing my breath. Heat rises from my knees to my arms to my cheeks. I pushed my fear away before, but now it’s clear—there’s a reason to worry. They should be here by now.
    “What does that mean?” I ask, stepping closer. “Where is she? Where’s Sam?”
    My voice is a little too high-pitched, too loud. I suck in a breath and hold it, waiting for an answer. Seth and Alexander stare at each other, conversing in silence. My heart pounds against the