Free Timescape by Robert Liparulo

revolved around rescuing his kidnapped mother and just surviving to see another sunrise? It was a rare treat to simply think about something other than the craziness of this house. Since moving in, some danger or another was always challenging him, whether he was in one of the far-off worlds or not.
    He blew at the bubbles and watched them break apart. He didn’t take many baths these days, but this one hit the spot. When he’d first climbed in, his skin had tingled almost painfully. He’d actually felt the warmth reach his muscles, then his bones. He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there, but he had turned on the hot water twice to keep the water steaming.
    The bath reminded him of better times, a long time ago in Pasadena: Mom was home, his friends were a short walk away, his team had won their last game—or not, it was fun either way. Strange how you didn’t really appreciate ordinary things until you didn’t have them anymore.
    When Dad had announced a few months ago that they were moving to Pinedale so he could take a job as a school principal, David had known their lives would change. He just never could have guessed how drastically different they would become.
    David closed his eyes and concentrated on the here and now. Silence. Warmth. Less than an hour ago he had nearly drowned in water so cold that if it weren’t salty, it would have been ice. That water had churned, turning the air into a cold, misty spray. By the time he and Dad had plunged into the ocean, most of the ship’s lights had gone out, leaving everything black. The sky had a smattering of stars, no moon; the water had appeared dark as oil. Screams and yells had filled the night like the howling of forest animals moving in for a kill.
    A noise startled him. He opened his eyes to see Xander slipping into the bathroom. His brother closed the door and pressed his back to it. He wore fresh clothes. His hair was damp and sticking up everywhere. He must have taken a shower in Mom and Dad’s bathroom.
    David’s heart stepped up its pace, the way it had done when Toria had burst into the antechamber. He realized that he was expecting the next emergency. That’s how constant the onslaught had been.
    â€œWhat?” he said.
    Xander said, “Dad wants us in bed right after dinner.”
    David relaxed. “Good.”
    â€œ Not good,” Xander said. He stepped into the small room, lowered the toilet lid, and sat on it. “We have things to do.”
    â€œLike what?”
    Xander gaped at him. “Mom?” he said, as if he’d had to remind David of the importance of a beating heart. “We gotta get those walls back up, the ones Phemus knocked down. We have to fortify this place before it all starts up again.”
    David realized he and Xander were in sync, both of them expecting trouble to come any second. But they were handling it differently. He wanted to enjoy the calm; Xander wanted to use it to prepare for what David had just thought of as the next emergency. He wondered if Xander had any specific trouble in mind. He said, “What starts up again?”
    â€œThe attacks. Taksidian, people from other worlds, the cops, like the ones who arrested Dad yesterday . . . who knows what else. You don’t think they’re going to stop now, do you?”
    â€œAren’t you tired? You told Dad you were ready to fall over.”
    â€œI am. But Dae, we’ll sleep when we’re dead.”
    The expression startled David. “Where’d you hear that?”
    Xander shrugged. “ I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead , pretty cool movie with Clive Owen.”
    A movie. Of course.
    â€œWell,” David said, “that day may come sooner than you think.” He propped his cast on the edge of the tub and dipped his head into the water. He flipped his head back, knowing he was splashing Xander but not caring. He pushed his hair off his face and spat out a