The Shadows- Fire's Hope

by E Kathryn

  Emilie crossed her arms, contemplating. “Sure thing.” Thinking aloud she murmured, “But… what if I were to trick him into using Hope?”

  Kimberly perked up. “How so?”

  Shrugging, Emilie leaned back in the air. “Maybe… sneak up on him…” she posed. “Maybe Hope will react, and—”

  Kimberly shook her head. “It won’t work. Hope is a being of the Realm. It would hear your thoughts and protect Mark without even revealing itself to him or you. There’re only five Orchestrators that I know of, and what Keller doesn’t realize is that Hope isn’t the only one who’s chosen a wielder. It’s not the only one we have to find. This is the first time in over five hundred years that all five of them are alive at once. The Shadows need a leader. Keller can’t lead the Shadows as a human.”

  Emilie eyed Kimberly and floated toward her. What Kimberly said infuriated her. Emilie was independent. The idea that her freedom depended on someone to lord over her was outrageous. A devious smile appeared on her lips as she leered over Kimberly and uttered, “Bug off!” in a whisper then flew over to the door.

  “And you are aware…” Kimberly broke in before she left. “Of the risk you are at by using your Shadow too strenuously. Just because gravity doesn’t affect anything you touch doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an effect on you. If ever you were unable to use your Shadow, you know you don’t have the strength in your legs enough to walk, or worse, what if you are flying and you fall.”

  Emilie shot back at Kimberly, “What?”

  Kimberly’s expression remained calm. She saw right through Emilie’s defenses. “You’ve never walked in your life. It’s always feigned because gravity doesn’t affect you, your legs are too weak to walk.” Kimberly met eyes deeply with Emilie in consequence. “While you rely on your Shadow for all your strength, your real muscles are never used. Without your Shadow, lifting a cup would be a struggle, much less walking, or throwing people around like you do.”

  Emilie grinned with all her teeth and spat, “Then I will never stop using my Shadow, and I’ll find a way to become stronger so my Shadow is unaffected by anything!”

  Not feeling in the slightest bit cocky, Emilie made it crystal clear getting her to stop using her Shadow was a lost cause. At least she had learned the truth about Mark’s Shadow.

  Emilie still hung in Kimberly’s face as she stood. “Here.” Kimberly thrust the small piece of paper at her. She took it and looked it over. “It’s the recipe you asked for, that is, for when you are free,” Kimberly said.

  Emilie read it and sank lower. “You really want to see the Shadows freed…” She grimaced. Kimberly knew what Emilie wanted, and with this motivation, Emilie admitted to herself she couldn’t resist. “I’ll do it…” She succumbed. “A love like that…has to be sincere.” Looking into Kimberly’s eyes, Emilie’s brow became softer. “I’m sorry, Kimberly, you of all people should have my trust, considering your past…”

  Kimberly smiled and cheerfully laid a hand on Emilie. “And you have my trust,”

  Emilie beamed, and taking the recipe, she flew off, exiting the infirmary promptly and flying up to the room where she should have been as soon as dinner ended. The Shadows were already preparing themselves for the evening comfortably, and to them the day was ending, but for Emilie the night was just beginning.

  Adopting a standing position, Emilie pretended to walk toward the computer room in the back. With a look, she begged Sil to come with her, but he raised his hand project, dismissively. Emilie took a glance at Mark, but didn’t let him notice, and she silently stepped into the back room only lit by the light of the computer.

  Emilie put her feet on the ground, and deliberately, she relinquished her power over gravity. Her legs gave out and she sank to the floor, her knees snapping against the hard marble. Wincing, she was sure she had bruised her knees, and she reinstated her power, biting down on her lip.

  “She’s right…” she whispered. “We do need a little help…”

  XIII

  DECEIT IN DARKNESS

  The elevator did open when he summoned it, and that surprised him. He expected this room to be a cell, but in fact, he was allowed to roam the halls at night. The solid stone floors were freezing on Mark’s feet, but he remedied the cold with a smoldering flame in his hand.

  It was so strange knowing the intense feeling of imprisonment many of the Shadows suffered even when they had most of this facility open to them. Mark still didn’t exactly feel trapped, just homesick.

  Making his way downstairs, Mark strode toward the lobby. For some reason, he felt safest there, like it was truly a home, unlike the mass bedroom he had to sleep in like some overwhelming summer camp. He could be alone down here, under the open sky of the huge windows overlooking the town of Culpeper. The night was clear, and the moon was bright, shining into the old building.

  The abandoned reception desk stood out like the ghost of what this facility used to house. The remnants of a metal detector stood at the door, and an old movie camera sat in a glass box upon the round desk. It was once a Library of Congress dedicated to preserving movies, now this was all that had survived.

  Stepping past the lounge seating in the middle of the room, Mark tried the front door, the only door he had seen that didn’t lead to the courtyard. It shimmered when he touched it. A bronze glow protested when his fingers latched around the door handle. The ASI prevented the Shadows from even touching the door, but Mark could, and he tested his luck. The doorknob clicked, but it wouldn’t budge, locked securely.

  He sighed, he could destroy the locks if he wanted. It would be easy. He thought better of it, keeping his cover for the Shadows. He clenched his fists, letting the fire warm him. He’d get out; he knew he would. He’d see his family again. He was sure of it, and he wasn’t going to let a single locked door get in his way.

  A little tiredly, he yawned and stepped back into the lounge, finding a seat near the window. He didn’t want to sleep now that he was thinking of home. His mind raced with how his family was doing. What did his mother think of him? How could she hate Shadows so much she’d be so quick to turn him over to the ASH? It seemed ridiculous that she’d do this to him willingly.

  None of this would have happened if his father had been around to stop her, to make her think this through just a bit longer. Mark sulked under the window. January either hated Shadows or was completely afraid of them, and Mark only gathered that much because of how the man would shut him down at every question about Shadows. January was absent-minded, all he cared about was work and being as far away from his family as possible.

  Mark admitted to himself he had a level of resentment for January. Why would he even get married or have kids if he didn’t want a family? Mark did know one thing; his dad would have stopped Marissa, made her think this through a little harder, and then Mark would be subject to hiding his powers from the world rather than learning to use them here.

  Mark didn’t know which outcome was worse.

  He shivered a little and let the flames in his hands grow hotter, soon to the point of combusting. He realized that small red flames were tickling upon the surface of his skin, and his sleeves remained unburned. They were getting easier to control, a soft, dim light to keep him warm, and an asset he was sure he would come to appreciate. Looking out at the hill on which the ASH stood, Mark sighed to himself, convinced no matter when the Shadows escaped, he was going to be here a long time.

  Mark determined to not let this place break his spirit. Even if he would be here forever, he would refine his Shadow. He would have perfect control over it, like Sil did. In the darkness of the midnight lobby, Mark’s hands burst into flame, a relaxed action, not sparked by an ounce of rage inside him. If emotion controlled his powers, then the Shadow controlled him, and he would never leave.

  It came easily, the crimson conflagration bringing light to the air around him like an evil force. It trickled up his sleeves, latching onto the fabric, but he wouldn’t let the fire burn it. Sp
reading out his hand, he set the floor on fire. The cold stone which couldn’t sustain a fire on its own lit up with a warm red. The ASI protested as Mark burned through it. He caused no damage to the building, he wouldn’t dare, but he could, if he wanted to. That was the most empowering thought.

  “You’re kidding, right?” A voice startled him, and in the instant he whirled around all the fire vanished.

  Sil sat in one of the lobby chairs on the far wall, having left the Realm. Mark’s face burned with the realization that Sil had been spying on him. “You figured out how to use the Realm without entering it, you can set stuff on fire without burning it, and the ASI has no effect on you… I mean, what’s your deal? How come you’re accomplishing what took me fourteen years to hone!”

  Mark pinched his arm nervously, refusing to meet eyes with Sil’s golden gaze. It glowed in the darkness from across the room, a dull shimmer which Mark’s own crimson eyes reflected. “Maybe… it’s because I didn’t grow up in the ASH. I never had the ASI holding me back in the first place.”

  “I’ll say,” Sil complained, crossing his legs and reclining. He seemed content, a little too content, but one thing was clear in his stance, he was as restless as Mark was. He heaved a long sigh, a cold breath fogging around his lips. “Get me out of here… whatever it takes. We have to get the Shadows out of here.”

  Pressing his lips together, Mark gave a slight nod. He took a cautious step forward, testing his luck with Sil. “What’s the plan?” Now completely determined, Mark walked right up to Sil. “Let’s get out of here tomorrow!”

  “Tomorrow?” Sil fretted. “You want to break down the entire ASH tomorrow? Good luck with that!”

  “No!” Mark defended himself then hesitated, faltering and crashing. The high of escape now fading.

  “You need a plan,” Sil insisted quietly.

  “I’ve got a plan!” Emilie’s voice interrupted, and Mark nearly jumped clear out of his skin when she came out of the Realm. Clearly, Sil knew Emilie was beside him, and they sat uncomfortably close, staring at Mark, who wasn’t open enough into the secret world to know they had both been watching him.

  “Both of you!” Mark shrieked causing his crazy cousin to laugh.

  Emilie floated upward when she giggled, barely subjecting herself to making contact with the sofa. “Mark, I’ve been trying to get out of here all my life! Trust me, I’ve got a plan.” Crossing her arms confidently, she leaned against Sil’s shoulder, annoying him a little, which Mark could see in his eyes. “We could steal one of the ASH’s vans. They have a couple big fifteen-passengers. I’m sure I can figure out how to drive it.”

  Mark raised an eyebrow, fairly certain Emilie had never been in a car in her life. Equally doubtful, Sil rolled his eyes. “I suggest Elise should drive. She’s the oldest, and the tallest. You wouldn’t have any experience driving?” he asked, directing a cold eye at Mark.

  Shaking his head promptly, Mark chuckled a little, “Nope.” Finding the seat facing them, Mark sat, rubbing his arms because it was still very cold. “Where are we going to go? I don’t know the area. None of us do.”

  Sil had a quick answer for this. “We’ll go south. North is into the city area, and we’ll get caught too quickly, but south of here it’s all forest. We can ditch the van at night, get into the trees and hide in the Realm until they lose our trail.”

  Pressing his lips together, Mark frowned at the idea of going farther away from home, but he nodded. The plan made sense. “We have to stick together,” he whispered, directing this toward Emilie. “For a couple Shadows, at least in our room, there’s going to be a huge temptation to just run, but we have to stick together to protect each other.”

  Smirking, Emilie scoffed. “We are all Shadows,” she mocked, still refusing to touch the sofa as she floated weightlessly. “If we get caught… I’m gonna fly. There’s no way I’m coming back here.”

  Sil nudged her shoulder firmly. “It’ll work.”

  Mark nodded eagerly. “You’ve got me now! You’ll get out of here for good, and I’ll introduce you to my aunt,” he offered, hoping that was enough incentive for her to stick around. His eyes gave away his worry, and Sil glared at him only worsening that fear.

  As if knowing what he was thinking, Sil flared his eyes blue at Mark. “The last Shadow to pass through the shield died.”

  Emilie took the words out of Sil’s mouth. “If you can take us through safely, it won’t be terribly difficult with all our powers to get away.”

  “Shouldn’t you be asleep,” another voice appeared. They all looked to see a figure with long dark hair. The three panicked, and Mark rose to his feet when he saw both Sil and Emilie immediately obtain defensive stances, as if ready to fight. The figure came into the light of the room, allowing Mark to make out Kimberly’s face, but this only worsened their terror. She had heard everything.

  Kimberly should’ve gone home at eight o’clock, but she stared at the three wayward children with understanding, loving eyes. “If you want your plan to work, you’re going to have to get some sleep.” Her warning struck them, and Mark gazed between Sil and Emilie at the woman.

  “Take a small group,” Kimberly advised. “Keller will be too crazy trying to find you and I can help get the rest of the Shadows to freedom. Think you can keep yourselves from getting caught?”

  Sil and Emilie looked to each other with wide eyes. Nonetheless, they nodded, standing between Mark, their one ticket out, and Keller’s most trusted friend.

  Kimberly smiled a little at their confidence. “Go to bed.” She gestured toward the hall. “I’ll give you a head start.”

  October 28, 2030

  Morning came to the ASH on Mark’s third day. He managed to speak to Sil without getting hurt. But Emilie, on the other hand, did her best to stay away from Mark for some reason. When Mark tried to ask her what was wrong this time, she said, “Pack your things. Room 13-15 will be abandoned tonight.”

  Mark was a little numb at the thought of being the single key for their escape, the tool that Emilie hoped to use to get her freedom. Breakfast was boring, lunch was bland, and he couldn’t wait to get outside. The fresh air was nice. It was a crisp October day, but unlike up north where all the trees had already turned, there was still a lot of green clinging to the trees here.

  Mark had been to Virginia before, a long time ago to visit some caves in the mountains. He didn’t know where Culpeper was in comparison to Luray where the caverns were. That trip had been a nice family vacation, a camping trip with their close friends, and nothing like this nightmare.

  The golden bronze shield hung over him like a dying sun. He wanted to destroy it, to just get it all over with, but he was sure Keller had some fail safe that would get in the way. Kimberly’s advice kept rolling around in his head. “Take a small group.” It felt like abandoning the Shadows to run away, and something deep inside him didn’t want to leave anyone behind.

  Sil spoke with Elise, filling her in on the plan and Mark only knew this because Sil flashed his eyes at him and a tone shot through him in the Realm, conveying everything Sil had said. It was disorienting, and Mark felt like Sil had punched him. Afterwards, Elise probably told Ocie softly, wanting her along for her wisdom and the strength in her Shadow. Finally, and despite Sil’s urgings, Mark wanted to tell Kip, to get him to freedom.

  Sil warned him, but he wouldn’t listen. Sil thought Kip was weak and useless, he’d slow them down and be a nuisance. For a moment, Mark really hated Sil and all his utilitarian beliefs. Even after all Sil had shown him, Mark was certain Sil only saw Shadows as tools, the people and their powers.

  Despondent, he sat down on the sidewalk, watching Sil prowl the courtyard to terrorize the younger Shadows. He chuckled a bit. Sil did this every day, didn’t he? Suddenly, the ice Shadow wasn’t quite so terrifying when he saw Sil casually bullying ten-year-olds, and mischievously gifting snowballs to the kids who were soaking up the last semblance of mild autumn sunlight.

  Otherwise, th
e kids seemed completely normal, rarely using their powers like the older Shadows did.

  His eyes followed Sil as he knelt by the edge of the barrier, getting very close to the shield and risking touching it to peer out into the grass only inches outside the ASI. Mark pressed his lips together, painfully aware that shield would have no effect on him if he were there. If Sil knew they were planning an escape, why would he risk getting so close to the edge now?

  Mark didn’t realize it at first, until he noticed Sil digging in the grass, rooting around the edge as if he was trying to dig a hole under the imaginary fence. Mark didn’t have to dig to figure the ASI went deep into the ground to prevent something like that.

  Sil patted the grass drawing it away to expose a little gravel that had been stamped down and he selected a few rocks. Mark watched a little more closely, curious as Sil counted stones in his palm and stared out of the barrier. Cautiously, he selected one, weighed it in his hand, then threw it at the shield at a gauged strength.

  The stone didn’t ricochet, unaffected by Shadows and the shield, and it passed through, flying a good distance into the grassy field.

  Mark perked up to see where it landed. The sun was gentle and warm for late October, and he was completely unused to the mild weather in Virginia, but he was thankful for the sunlight, allowing him to spy something moving and squirming in the grass. About five feet from the shield, a snake reacted to the small stone which had been thrown at it. The black snake coiled and constricted, confused and eyeing up the direction from which the stone had appeared.

  It didn’t leave, it just watched, flustering when Sil threw another stone. Mark tensed and it only occurred to him then that maybe, from outside the ASI, the Shadows were invisible to the world. The creature had no clue how the loose gravel had appeared.

  Suddenly, a large bird of prey swooped in from the sky, landing squarely on the snake’s head and taking advantage of its distraction. Sil smiled and sat back from his crouched position to watch his hawk kill a quick meal. He seemed genuinely pleased and gave a quiet call, just loud enough for the bird to hear. Mark barely caught his voice, only seeing his lips moving.