Page 104 of The Outcast
“No, a few weeks back. He told me that he longed to go somewhere far away.”
“Where?”
“To a place where no one knew who he was, and people didn’t expect him to be a certain way.”
Khan groaned and rubbed his head. “What else did he say?”
“That he felt pressured.”
Pearl placed her hand on Khan’s wrist, quietly supporting him.
Linea, who stood not far from me, joined in. “I’m certain that Thor did this to get away for a while. He needed space to think. I’m sensing that he’s upset and in a bad headspace, but he’s not in physical danger.”
Khan frowned and turned to Linea. “And do your psychic powers tell you where he is at this moment?”
Linea ignored Khan’s harsh tone that revealed a lack of confidence in her abilities. Khan was a practical man and energy work had never made sense to him.
“It would be easier for me to tell if I could touch something of Thor’s. Like a piece of clothing or a personal item.”
Pearl pointed to Freya. “Sweetheart, would you please take Linea to Thor’s room?”
Freya was quick to comply and moved toward Linea with a hushed “Come on.”
“I’ll come with you,” I whispered and let go of Banni’s hand.
He gave me a nod, gesturing that he understood and that he was staying.
When Freya, Linea, and I entered Thor’s room it was tidy. My guess was that a house-bot had dusted off and made his bed. Linea moved around, taking in his personal belongings. “What about this one?” Freya had opened his closet and was holding up a shirt.
“It’s okay. His energy is all around me in here.” She moved to his bed and pulled the bedcover aside, placing her hand on first one pillow and then the other. Picking up the last one, she held it to her face and inhaled deeply.
I watched Linea sink to her knees, still clutching Thor’s pillow in her arms. Her gaze turned distant as if her mind had left to search for him.
Freya and I went to sit on the floor in front of her.
“Do you sense anything?” Freya asked with clear concern for her brother.
Linea tilted her head. “Interesting.”
“What do you see?” I whispered.
“I smell salt water and hear waves crashing. Seagulls chirping in a high pitch and dogs barking at them.”
“Thor is by the water?”
Linea smiled. “Mm-hmm. He can breathe again.”
“Does he know how worried we are?”
“I’m not sensing that being his concern. There’s a sense of desperation. As if he needed to get away for his own sanity or to save his life.”
“What do you mean?”
Linea’s eyes closed again as she inhaled sharply. “I’m picking up anger and depression coming from him. Hmm.” She tilted her head. “I’m seeing him with ropes, which isn’t a literal thing but rather a sign that he has felt trapped lately.”
“Linea, listen, try to see if you can sense where he is.”
She sat quietly for a while and then she opened her eyes. “He doesn’t want to be found. If you drag him back here, you might lose him for good.”
