Chapter 21

"Kristie? Kristie, wake up." Jae sat on the floor in an empty white room, holding her in his arms. Her pulse was strong and steady, but she didn't move. "Come on, wake up, please," he whispered and kissed her forehead.

Kristie cringed and opened her eyes. "Hmm?"

"You're awake! Oh, thank goodness." Jae sighed and leaned back on the wall.

"Ugh... What happened?" She rubbed her neck, remembering a pinch. "Where are we?"

"I don't know. The room is empty, and I haven't checked if the door is locked or not. I think we've been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped? By who? Why?"

"Kristie, I don't have any answers for you. I was more worried about finding you unconscious, and not being able to wake you for the past... twenty minutes."

"Oh..."

He helped her sit up and kept an arm around her. "Are you okay?"

"My head's a little off... Jae?" Her eyes widened as she stared at him.

"Yeah."

"Your mask is gone."

Jae's hand shot to his face. "That can't be good, and Elias is going to kill me after what he went through to get it."

"I agree with you on that one." Without thinking about it, she touched his face. Though it's always good to see you this way. "What are the chances someone would kidnap us and take your mask? It's not like they just come off like clothes."

"Well, I don't think it was Elias, and we haven't talked to anyone about it."

"Unless someone was spying on us."

"Or something."

Kristie's eyes widened. "You think is was... AI? But that's..."

"Practically unthinkable? When I look at it from a this-timer's point-of-view, I agree, but not from mine. Everything's been wacky since I was awoken, and I'm sure we both agree if it was urgently trying to find me, it would have."

"Then why now? It probably could've gone after you right away... Wait, how did it do that? As far as I know, it doesn't have a regular body, and how did it knock us out? Do you remember what happened?"

"It could've had someone working for it. There could be a whole network of people secretly carrying out its wishes and everybody is none the wiser."

Kristie nodded. "You're right. We're not a part of the elite who run the world, so we wouldn't be privy to that information. Makes it even weirder to kidnap us, though."

Jae stared at her for a moment. "If it was AI from the beginning, that means it let me out... and why me? Why you?"

Her eyes widened. "You don't mean...?"

"Can you think of any other reason?"

"So it's my fault this happened?" Kristie turned away from him. It's not like he wanted to be unfrozen. "Because of my fascination with you, it released you?"

"It's one possibility." Jae gripped her shoulders and pulled her back to him. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make it sound like I was blaming you. I think AI is doing this out of curiosity. That's my guess, anyway."

"What's it trying to learn about?"

"Love? Attraction?"

"I'm sure there have been plenty of couples it could've studied before us." Oops; I called us a couple.

"You're right, but those happened out there while AI was around. I'm thinking it wanted to see it first hand, keeping an eye on it the whole time while it tried to understand. That or it wanted to experiment with someone from the past and someone from the current time."

"Either way, we're an experiment? Then why not leave us as we were, why kidnap us?"

"That, I don't know. I know whatever they hit us with was rough on our bodies, but do you think you can stand yet?"

"Do I have to? I'm quite comfortable here." Can't believe I said that out loud.

"Well, I can't refute you there." Jae leaned his chin on her shoulder, his arms firmly wrapped around her. "But we probably should see what's going on."

"A few more minutes, please." I've never had anyone to relax like this with... and yet I'm giddy at the same time. This makes no sense. She fiddled with her fingers, trying to contain herself.

"Are your hands okay?" He covered her hands with his and slid his thumb across her fingers.

His hands are rough, but his touch is gentle. I wonder if he has a lot of experience with women. Wait, does that matter? He's here with me now, and any potential woman from his past wouldn't be around now. Twisted thing to be happy about. "Yeah, just antsy. Kinda want to check the door, kinda want to stay in here, waiting."

"Sometimes it's good to have patience, but I don't think waiting here is going to help us any. We have to move." Jae got with Kristie still in his arms.

"Ack. A little warning first, please."

"But then you might object to it." Jae released her and stood in front of the door. "First things first." He put his hand on the metal doorknob and it turned. "Guess it's open." Jae bit his lip as he thought and glanced out into the empty, white hallway. "There's nothing here. As much as I want to tell you to stay here and be safe, I'm not sure how safe it is."

"Or that I'll listen to someone telling me to stay."

"Of course." He held his hand out to her. "Ready to venture out?"

She stared at his outstretched hand and smiled. "As if I could say no to you." Looks like a hero from a movie.

Jae frowned as she took his hand. "Please don't tell me that's because of my face. And I hope you know how to say no when you need to, even if it's with me."

"Not sure I could." Her brain went too much in a fog every time he smiled at her. "Sorry, but I can't seem to help it. I imagine if you asked for something ludicrous, I could say no... but I have a hard time picturing you asking for something like that."

"Guess it is more than my face, then." He laced his fingers through hers. "I don't want you getting separated; we don't know what's out there. I'll do my best to keep you safe. If something happens to me, leave me behind—"

"Hey, I can't do that! If something happens, I'll try to help—"

"This is going to happen every time, isn't it?"

Kristie nodded.

"I really wish you'd prioritize yourself when there's danger. How am I ever going to not worry?" He sighed.

Oh! She held her free hand over her racing heart. He's talking like there's a future for us! I did it. I won over my dream man.

"Kristie?"

"Sorry; daydreaming."

"Really?" He gripped her hand tighter. "Try to keep your feet and mind on the ground. Focus on my grip if you have to. Please keep your eyes peeled; I don't know what's out there."