Free Sword Play by Linda Joy Singleton Page A

was trapped beside him. Again, I tried to talk to him, begging him to stop; as if I could somehow change past events.
    A truck honked a horn, swerving out of Kip’s way. But Kip only accelerated, bent over the wheel, whipped into a critical frenzy.
    The car was swerving more wildly, but Kip didn’t seem aware. His face reflected pale death. I wanted to grab him, force him to stop, but this moment was racing out of control, with only one outcome possible.
    We turned a corner, and the tree loomed ahead. Darker than night with twisted branches that beckoned like crooked fingers.
    Closer, closer, closer.
    Then we crashed.

When I awoke, soft dawn light cast wispy shadows around my room. Disoriented, for an uneasy moment I expected to see the twisted tree and a car wreck. Instead, my room was quiet. I remembered leaving the TV on, yet it was silent and the remote control lay on the bedside dresser. My clothes had been picked up from the carpet where I’d left them. Who’d been in here? Mom? She hadn’t cleaned up after me since I was a little girl.
    Glancing at the clock, I saw it was almost seven. Despite my disturbing dream, I’d slept through the night.
    It wasn’t an ordinary dream , Opal spoke in my head.
    “Then what was it?” I asked without speaking, closing my eyes to get a clearer vision of my spirit guide. She wore a jeweled turban and her dark brows knitted together solemnly.
    A memory transference.
    “It felt more real than a memory, I was there in the car with Kip.”
    Your astral self journeyed through the past. You invited the experience upon yourself by calling forth Kip’s spirit. He didn’t have the energy to come to you directly, so he sent you to his memories. An intriguing learning opportunity that should offer new insights.
    “Intriguing? It was terrifying! I was trapped in that car and it kept going faster and faster until we crashed. It was worse than a nightmare.”
    It was only an illusion and you were perfectly safe.
    “I didn’t feel safe,” I grumbled, gathering my blankets around my shoulders. “And I still don’t know who Kip wants me to help or why he was driving so fast. Can’t you just bend rules and tell me?”
    I am bound by no rules, as you naively assume. Nor am I privy to higher knowledge. Your journey through another’s mind was a gift from this side; a glimpse into the past. I would expect you to show gratitude rather than offer complaints.
    “I’m not complaining,” I argued.
    Sounds like complaining to me.
    “I’m just confused.”
    As fear is a gift of energy to aid in focusing your talents, confusion inspires curiosity; opening windows of creativity and inviting resourceful insights. Embrace your confusion and seek out inventive solutions. Answers will follow.
    “While I’m doing this embracing, what are you going to do to help?”
    I’m always a thought away, watching over you.
    “Then why don’t you always answer me?”
    When you don’t hear my reply, the answer is no.
    “You’re not helping.”
    My role is to guide so that you may find your inner light. Her regal head lifted with amusement. Besides, I have a full life here, with numerous engagements. I’d tell you all about it, but I must be off. My dear friend Lucretia awaits …
    Then she was gone.
    I sat up in bed and kicked aside my covers. A lot of help Opal was. While she was off with Lucretia, I was left with a pile of problems. And I still didn’t know who Kip wanted me to help.
    My initial guess, Leanna, didn’t seem likely after viewing Kip’s memory. Something had happened at the prom or afterwards. Kip had been furious and rushing after someone. “Got to get her,” he’d said.
    Was this the same “her” he wanted me to help?
    The most logical girl was his date Aileen. According to news reports, Aileen and Kip had a great time at the prom and everything was fine when he dropped her off. But in my dream Kip had been far from fine—he’d been furious. Had he and Aileen gotten into