Free Shifting by Rachel D'Aigle Page A

rumors about Markus Scraggs.”
    “Since when do you pay attention to rumor, Irving Mochrie?” Sheila scolded. “What would the rest of your family think if they heard you planning your life according to rumor?” Sheila Mochrie decided the conversation was over. She got up and went into house.
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    “Dad’s not fond of Vian Sadorus,” whispered Jae. “He bought the bank and demoted dad, who was next in line to manage the place.”
    “I wouldn’t like him either if he’d done that to me.” Colin whispered back, and then asked, “I don’t understand why you need a bank, if things in the village are free.”
    “In the village, yes. However, outside the village, not the case. Everyone has to chip in to the town fund. We do odd jobs as we travel, like here, working in Grimble, so we can buy supplies we need along the way. But, the businesses in our village are still owned by people, and Garner owns a lot.”
    “How does he afford to buy businesses?” asked Colin, confused.
    “He’s old money, plus, the owners get small stipends to keep their businesses open. It’s not much, but it helps.” Jae added, “Sorry I haven’t been around much, been helping dad at the bank. He’s due for a promotion, as you heard.” Colin realized that he and Meghan should give some of their recently inherited money to the town fund.
    “Better be off then, Jae,” said Irving Mochrie, darting his stern eyes at Jae to see if he was ready to leave.
    Jae jumped up and said he’d be ready in a flash and ran inside bounding up the spiral staircase.
    Meghan, at that same moment, was bounding down the stairs. She glanced through the staircase window into the lit outdoor fire pit; she didn’t notice Jae rounding the staircase at full speed.
    They crashed head-on!
    Meghan fell back and Jae fell down a stair, thankfully catching himself before falling all the way. He was back up instantly and held out his hand to offer Meghan assistance.
    “Sorry, always in a hurry these days. I was telling Colin, I’ve been helping my dad at the bank.
    Should calm down soon, though.” She held out her hand to accept his help. It was nice to see Jae, if even for a minute.
    As she grabbed hold of his hand, an overpowering sensation crept into her mind; intense heat, followed by crippling pain. She doubled over, feeling as though her body was being squeezed like a tube, emptying every last ounce of her breath. It felt like the last breath, the final breath before death.
    Jae propped her up, setting her down on the stairway, letting go of her hand. Instantly her breath returned and she began to feel normal again. Colin, sensing something wrong, snuck inside.
    “What happened?” he asked, seeing her on the stair.
    “Don’t know. We ran into each other and when I tried to help her up she fell over.” Meghan did not speak.
    Irving Mochrie burst in impatiently.
    “Already, please.”
    Jae passed by the twins and ran up the stairs. Colin helped his sister outside for some air. A minute later Jae was gone, followed by Mireya and her mother, leaving the twins alone.
    “What was that all about?” asked Colin.
    “I don’t know exactly. I… I saw Jae’s pain, as I touched him. I could feel it.” She scrunched her face as she said it, leaving out the worst of what she had felt.
    “How can you feel someone’s pain?”
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    “I have no idea. Maybe Uncle Eddy can help.” She departed at a quick pace, with Colin begging for her to slow down. As they edged closer to Grimble, Colin finally dared ask what he had been thinking the entire walk.
    “Were you able to see what’s wrong with Jae? What he is upset about?”
    “No. It wasn’t a specific thing.” After a minute, she continued. “I did get the feeling that whatever’s bothering Jae has been doing so for a long time, and is something that might get worse.” Not wanting to frighten Colin, she blocked the memory and left out the most important part: Jae’s imminent death!
    As they arrived at