Read Online The Last Phoenix by Linda Chapman - Free Book Online

fail? Right now, in this future world, she was finding out for real. The thought was like a tickle under her skin.
    â€œOh, no way!” said Jess suddenly, her attention caught by two figures coming down the stone steps.
    â€œMichael!” Jason squeaked, pointing. “It’s…it’s us!”
    â€œMe and you, Jase—the next-week versions!” Michael blinked. “Whoa, it’s a bit weird to be here and see us over there too isn’t it?”
    Jason nodded, dumbstruck. It did feel very odd.
    â€œI wonder what you’ve been doing inside Mr. Milton’s house?” said Jess.
    â€œMaybe we’ve just bought it with all our phoenix gold!” Michael laughed.
    â€œI wonder where we are?” said Jess to Milly.
    Milly nodded in a preoccupied way. She knew exactly where she would be right now. And it was only a five-minute walk from here to the church hall…
    The future Michael and Jason walked down the steps and across the grass together. They looked a bit nervous, like they were watching out for someone.
    Michael turned to the others. “Look, this is too good a chance to let pass. Let’s go and ask ourselves if we find the sunshine. If we don’t, then we might as well head off home.”
    â€œBut what if we only head off home because we told ourselves to?” said Jason. “It’s a paradox again!”
    â€œYou worry too much. It’ll be cool.” Michael clapped him on the back and hurried toward the rose garden. “Come on, let’s go and meet our future selves!”
    Jason was about to set off after him when Jess’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Don’t you dare!”
    â€œI—I have to,” Jason said, scurrying away. “I just thought of something. If Michael’s right about those future versions knowing what we need…”
    Jess groaned. “Come on, Milly, we’d better make sure they don’t do anything too dumb.”
    â€œUm, I think I might just stay here,” said Milly. “I don’t want to risk mucking up the future.”
    â€œWell, just make sure you don’t move from this spot,” Jess instructed her. “We can’t go home if we’re not all together.”
    Milly nodded, and watched Jess turn away. Future Michael and Future Jason were sitting on a bench in the garden, and her Jason and Michael were about to catch them up. I will stay here, she thought. Fenella hadn’t peeped into the past to see what had happened to her egg. So what right did she have to learn how her audition was going to go in the future?
    But Fenella losing an egg was a big event , Milly thought. Me getting to be Annie isn’t. And I’ll find out anyway in a few days…
    She hesitated a moment longer. Then she ran toward the fence.
    Â 
    As Jess ran after Jason and Michael, she saw Future Michael and Future Jason staring grimly as their younger selves approached.
    â€œSo there we are,” said Future Jason. “I mean, there you are.”
    Jason felt a shiver pass right through him. It was like staring at a perfect double of himself. He felt unbelievably creeped out.
    â€œI know you’re feeling unbelievably creeped out,” said Future Jason kindly. “I am too!”
    â€œDon’t look so surprised to see me, mate,” Michael told his future self as he closed the distance between them. “You’re me—you must have been expecting this.”
    â€œSmart aleck,” Future Michael retorted. “Actually, I can remember everything you said.”
    â€œOh, yeah?” Michael asked, but Future Michael said it too at exactly the same time. They both laughed in perfect harmony. Jess rolled her eyes.
    â€œLook at this!” Future Michael held out his arm and showed off a long deep scratch.
    â€œOuch.” Michael winced.
    â€œI’d say watch out for the guy with the sword and half a feather, but what’s the