Varek exhales slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “I have a theory. The rift that brought Dawson here is… different.”
I narrow my eyes. “Different how?”
He folds his arms. “Most rifts pull from a specific location. A singular tear, leading from one place to another. But this one….” He glances at Dawson. “It sliced across Earth itself, didn’t it? Pulled from multiple locations?”
I nod, realisation dawning. “You think that affected him somehow?”
Varek doesn’t answer immediately, but his expression darkens with thought. “It’s possible.”
Dawson raises a hand awkwardly. “Uh, just to clarify. You’re saying I’m some kind of rift anomaly?”
Varek’s lips twitch slightly, almost amused. “Potentially.”
Dawson considers that. “Does that come with any benefits? Like, do I get laser vision or something?”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. Varek, to my surprise, actually smiles—a rare thing. “Unlikely.”
Dawson sighs dramatically. “Well, that’s disappointing.”
I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “Okay, but aside from his temperature being weird, is there anything we should be worried about?”
Varek studies Dawson again before answering. “Not immediately. But we should monitor him.”
Dawson shrugs. “Cool. I’m fine with that.”
There’s a beat of silence, and then Dawson glances between us, rubbing the back of his neck. “So… what’s the plan for getting me back home?”
I wince.
Varek doesn’t immediately answer. His silver gaze flickers to me, as if checking to see if I want to handle this one. I don’t. I don’t want to be the one to break this to Dawson. But the weight of it already sits heavy in my chest.
Varek sighs, standing straighter, his massive frame casting a shadow over the room. “The rifts have been happening for over a human decade. Maybe even two.” His voice is calm, measured. “No one knows why. No one has ever been able to control them. And no one who has come through has ever found a way back—that we know of.”
Dawson doesn’t speak at first. His fingers flex slightly at his sides, but his face remains steady. He nods once, slow and thoughtful, then exhales through his nose. “Right. So, stuck here, then.”
It’s not a question.
I can’t help the way my chest tightens. Because even though I’ve been here for years, even though I’ve carved out a place for myself in this world, it still stings to hear it laid out so plainly.
Dawson takes it with a kind of quiet acceptance. No tears. No yelling. Just that same steady composure, like a guy who’s too used to going with the flow to fight against the current.
He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t react the way most people would. It throws me a little.
Varek watches him closely, as if assessing, then nods approvingly. “You’re taking this well.”
Dawson snorts. “Mate, my life was already pretty weird. Now it’s just… a different kind of weird.”
I huff a laugh despite myself. “Differentis one way to put it.”
Dawson shrugs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his borrowed pants. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. It’s insane. But it’s not like screaming about it is gonna change anything.” He tilts his head, considering. “And it’s not the worst place to be stuck, I guess. Got weirdly hot monsters—uhm, shit, no offence,” he saysquickly to Varek. “It’s got weirdly hot different species and some solid hospitality.”
I blink.
Varek arches a brow, clearly amused.
Dawson smirks. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just saying, if I’d landed in someMad Max, cannibal-infested wasteland, then yeah, maybe I’d be losing my shit. But this?” He gestures vaguely. “Seems all right so far.”
My lips twitch. “You do realise we’re literally in a rebel hideout, right? And didn’t you nearly get killed just yesterday?”
