Free Break The Ice by Kevin P Gardner Page B

from the Dinmani.
    He greets me with an out-of-place smile, like he didn’t murder someone seconds before. “Hello. Tinjo said you might need help.”
    “What the hell was that?” I say.
    “Sunjin,” he says, like I don’t already know that. “I sensed his presence but could not cross over fast enough to stop him.”
    “Not that,” I say. “The blue light you killed him with.”
    “Dinmow,” he says. “It is my essence. It can bring a dying Dinmani back to health, but it is deadly against any Sunjin.” He stares at me for a second before stepping in close. “I can sense it in you.” He shifts back a little, looking over his shoulder. “Are you Dinmani?”
    I can’t help but laugh out loud. “What? No. I’m just a guy.”
    He squints a little, staring into my eyes. “If you say so. Well then, guy, I am Tinwel, captain of the Dinmani army.”
    Tinwel? I’ll never remember their names if I meet too many more. “Did Tinjo send you to lead us?
    Tinwel shakes his head. “I am only here to guide when needed. Until you learn to fight the Sunjin, you will require some help.”
    “Sam?”
    My body freezes. Kaitlyn. How did I forget? It must be almost ten minutes since I left. I turn around. She stands at the building’s edge, helping Ted limp across the parking lot. I forgot Ted was even with her and a flash of guilt flutters through me. I run over.
    “Are you okay?” I say.
    “I wanted to ask the same thing. What happened to you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    She lifts a hand and runs it along my neck. Every nerve sparks at her touch. “Did you get too close to the fire?” she says.
    Pulling my phone out, I turn on the camera and use it like a mirror. A red welt stretches along one whole side of my throat. The Sunjin’s attack must have hit me harder than I thought.
    “I’m okay,” I say, rubbing my neck. It burns a little now that I know about it.
    Tinwel walks up beside me. “Is this your army?” he says. Subtle.
    Wait a second. Neither Kaitlyn nor Ted has any idea what they’re standing next to. I shift my stare from Tinwel to Kaitlyn to explain, but stop. She’s shaking and her lips show signs of blue. I place a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
    At my touch, she sucks in a deep breath. “So…cold.” Her eyes leave mine and focus on Tinwel. Her mouth hangs open, but she doesn’t say anything else.
    “You have to go,” I say, addressing Tinwel. “Unless you can do whatever Tinjo did for me, they can’t be near you.”
    Tinwel nods. “Only Tinjo can provide protection. If they will fight with you, speak to him.” He turns away and draws a circle in the air. A small light appear out of nowhere. It grows until he can step through.
    As soon as it blinks out of existence, Kaitlyn and Ted stop shaking. They both collapse to the ground. I’m standing close enough to Kaitlyn to catch her. I help her lean against a nearby car before I grab Ted and pull him over.
    “Who was that?” Kaitlyn says.
    “ What was that?” Ted says, correcting her.
    I swallow the lump stuck in my throat. “He’s the reason I came today. Well, not him exactly, but his people.”
    “You wanted to meet me so you could help destroy the Orange Cone?”
    “No. I wanted to meet you because I’ve thought about it for a long time. But that’s not the point.”
    “What is the point?”
    I’m losing her. But how can I explain it to her without sounding insane? “There’s a parallel universe and two civilizations from that universe are at war against each other. The Dinmani, like Tinwel, the blue guy that just disappeared through a portal, want to save it. The Sunjin, the evil ones who destroyed the Orange Cone, want to destroy Earth. I need your help to stop them.” I guess there’s no way to not sound crazy saying that.
    Ted laughs. “Where did you find this guy? He’s nuts.”
    I bite my tongue. I like Ted less and less every time he talks. But I need people, Tinjo made that clear. “So I can count