Free Strength by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo

sudden? It’s morning.”
    “I’ve had about ten hours of sleep in the past five days.”
    “Oh. I’ll ask you later then.”
    “No. Go ahead. What is it?” Aerigo yawned.
    “I was wondering if you could tell me anything about Daio. Maybe I could better help you anticipate his next move if I understand how he thinks.”
    He gazed at her with half-open eyes. “Don’t trust him.”
    “Well, duh!” she said. “He doesn’t think saving lives is a good idea.”
    “Always keep that in mind,” Aerigo said, resting his head against the window. “He’ll cause collateral damage to achieve what he wants.” He yawned again, then began speaking so softly Roxie had to strain to hear over the drone of the engine. “But I need to train you up a bit before you start worrying about that.”
    “What kind of training?”
    Aerigo’s eyes closed. “Physical conditioning... and some magic.”
    “Like turning into a giant and back?”
    “It’s dangerous...”
    “How so?”
    “Don’t trust Daio...”
    “I know. You already said that.”
    “Stay away from the window.”
    “Of course I’m staying away from the window,” she said, folding her arms and glaring at the chair in front of her. “I’m not going to lean—” Roxie looked down at her lap. Aerigo’s hand had fallen palm-up onto it. She cleared her throat. “Hey! Aerigo.”
    He remained motionless, minus the rise and fall of his chest.
    She poked his upper arm. “Aerigo, move your own hand!”
    Roxie then heard his deep, relaxed breathing, along with the glass fogging up a little every time he exhaled. Her sourness turned to confusion. “Aerigo? Hello?” She didn’t know it was possible for anyone to nod off so fast.
    She took his fallen wrist between two fingers and tossed his hand on his own lap. She watched to make sure it wouldn’t magically defy physics and find its way back to her lap.
    It didn’t. In fact, Aerigo didn’t give the slightest inkling that he knew his arm had been moved. Roxie turned her attention to the little overhead televisions and joined the rest of the passengers in watching Happy Feet. She broke her fast on an orange and a couple of little muffins as the first raindrops speckled the bus windows.
    ***
    Three hours into the commute, the bus stopped in Syracuse, New York for a rest stop lunch, and the rain had developed into a steady fall sometime during the movie. Her fellow passengers shielded their heads and made mad dashes for the food court. Roxie walked alone to the entrance, not bothered by getting a little wet. She’d tried to wake Aerigo by calling his name, but he was dead to the world, so she let him rest.
    Roxie bought some Sbarro’s pizza, along with an extra slice and a giant chocolate chip cookie for Aerigo in case he woke up, in the mood for lunch. She snuck hers and Aerigo’s lunches onto the bus, stowed his food with their packs, and ate in peace. She wanted the luxury of Aerigo’s protection—provided that she could wake him—in case Daio found a way to catch up.
    ***
    The bus finished traversing Binghamton, New York and the driver announced that they’d be crossing into Pennsylvania soon. They were right around halfway to their destination.
    The rain had let up in this part of New York but it was still cloudy. Puddles blotted the sides of the highway and passing cars kicked up swirling mist tails.
    Roxie heard cars horns and wondered who was driving like an idiot today. She stole a glance out Aerigo’s rain-splattered window and saw a Mustang fighting to stay on the slippery road as it swerved to the left. She jumped to her feet and pressed her palms to the glass. The car slid into the breakdown lane, slammed into the cement barrier with a metallic crunch, then rebounded off it and arced toward the Blue Eagle Express’s belly. The car’s nose broadsided the bus, jolting it, then got wedged under the wheels. Roxie dropped a foot back to keep her balance and continued watching.
    Passengers snapped out