Bridge of Mist and Fog by nikki broadwell

the door and stepping out. A second later she popped her head through the doorway. “I think she’s gone, but hurry. ”
    Fehin grabbed his pack and handed Airy hers before the two of them hurried down the hall and then snuck down the stairwell. “Meet for lunch?” Fehin asked.
    “Not today. I’ve got to study for a test I’m taking this afternoon. I don’t get why they make us do this right before a vacation.”
    “Would you rather do it when you get back? That would mean worrying about it for the entire break.”
    Airy grimaced and then headed off in the direction of the English building.
    All the distractions of the night had kept Fehin from thinking about Wolf and Gary but now the entire scene came rushing back. Was Wolf enrolled here? How did he know Gary? He sent his thoughts out, searching for his half-brother, but there was no sign of him. Either that or he was completely locked out of his brother’s headspace. Not a good sign.

16
    “Fehin, the car’s downstairs!” Airy called. Fehin was in his own dorm room packing and she hoped he would hurry because she hated to keep her grandfather waiting. She heard a clatter on the metal stairs and then he was there, his bulging pack on his back.
    There had been snow the night before, leaving the flagstones slick and treacherous. “Follow me,” she said, heading across the quad as quickly as she dared.
    Fehin trudged behind her and she could hear him muttering what sounded like curses. But he didn’t curse, did he? When she looked back he was looking down, his eyebrows scrunched. “What’s wrong?”
    He started and then stared into the distance. “Stuff with Wolf. I’ll tell you later.”
    A shiver of apprehension went up Airy’s spine. What now? But she couldn’t focus on it since her grandfather was standing next to the car with his arms held out.
    “Sweetheart! It’s been too long!” He hugged her and then pulled back. “Look at you, all grown up!”
    Airy turned as Fehin approached. “Grandpa, this is my friend Fehin I told you about.”
    “Hello, young man,” he said holding out his hand. “Just call me Hank.”
    They piled into the Volvo station wagon, Airy in the front passenger side and Fehin in back. “Your Dad just called me, sweetheart. Said he’d call again tomorrow when the family is all there. He’s concerned about you because of the changes since he and your mother moved away. There’s more poverty now but I don’t think it’s as bad as he imagines. Your grandmother and I are lucky because we have the farm and our savings invested in the stock market. It’s higher than it’s ever been.”
    Airy glanced at her grandfather, noticing that his hair had turned more gray since the last time she’d seen him. But his hazel eyes were as clear and bright as ever. “I haven’t spoken with them since I’ve been here.”
    “You haven’t?”
    “I can’t call them in the Otherworld.”
    “Why haven’t they called you? Finna and Alex have phones.”
    “I don’t know, Grandpa. Maybe they think it’s better for me to be on my own.”
    Hank shook his head. “I’ll have to have a talk with that son of mine. Sometimes I think those two live in a fairy world.”
    “In some ways the Otherworld is like a fairy world.”
    Her grandfather frowned. “They should keep in touch, Airy. It’s not right to drop an innocent girl like you off in this crazy place and not check in once in a while.” He glanced in the rear view mirror as though he’d said something wrong.
    “It’s okay, Grandpa. Fehin knows all about it. He’s from 2366.”
    “2468,” Fehin corrected.
    “From the future, eh? Your mother wouldn’t be Gertrude, by any chance?”
    “How did you…?” Airy began.
    “That’s right,” Fehin answered. “She used to live here. Did you meet her?”
    “Indeed I did, young man, and her friend Carla as well. Have you seen Carla since you’ve been here?”
    “No,” Fehin answered. “I didn’t want to disturb her. My