Ben had me do short sprints to warm up as a light rain began to fall and mist clouded the tops of the trees. The temperature was dropping making me shiver. But Ben didn’t stop; he didn’t seem bothered by the cold.
“How am I supposed to run as fast as you?” I spat through chattering teeth. “There is no way I can possibly run like that.”
Ben stepped in front of me with the grey sky framed behind him. Rain delicately hit the ground in large drops as he gently lifted my arm and exposed my mark.
“This says otherwise.” I looked at it then at Ben. “You are making your own obstacles, April Snow. You shouldn’t do that. They will only get in the way.”
I gave him a confused look.
“Making my own obstacles?” I questioned.
“Come on, our lesson isn’t over.”
Ben sprinted up a steep hill with me panting behind him. Rain began to steadily fall from the sky and my breath fogged in front of me. I was soaked, cold, and miserable.
“To help you out,” he said, gazing down the slope of hill. “We will use this incline to assist in your speed.”
“Assist in me rolling down the hill—isn’t that what you mean?”
Ben smiled. “Sense of humor…all the better.”
“This time you won’t be running like a human, but like a monster. The strength is in your mark and the more you use it, the more it will become a part of you.”
Ben had me stare at my mark until I had its pattern memorized. Then with my eyes closed, I pictured my mark in my head. I always thought of it as ugly, until now. It was really a beautiful thing with its pencil-thin lines swirling on my skin. My hexmark, I felt, was a permanent reminder of my traumatic childhood. Now, I thought different.
The black color contrasted with my pale skin. Swirling lines curled and intersected around one another like an artist had designed them. I felt those markings reaching into me. I suddenly realized I had a direction, a path, a course that had opened like a giant iron gate squeaking at the hinges as it did. With so many possibilities rushing through my mind, I felt my head was a churning sea of memories, dreams, and fears that collided between my past and future.
Rain stung my face, and my hair flew behind me as I ran down the hill, through the pasture ground, over a fence until I came to a rock bottom creek. I heard Ben calling for me, but I didn’t want to stop. Instead, I jig-jogged through the creek strategically placing my feet on protruding rocks so I wouldn’t get my feet wet. I ran as fast as Ben had gone through the forest when he found me, and it felt wonderful.
I didn’t feel tired or exhausted or even freaked out. It felt natural—a natural that I never thought I could feel.
Trees, fences, rocks, didn’t flash by in blurs, but were highly detailed. I could see them as if I was on a slow stroll admiring every nook and cranny of nature. I smiled at myself feeling I was on top of the world when I thought I would impress Ben, who was still yelling at me to stop. I propelled myself up the steep bank of the creek, and then slowed. It would have been perfect if it wasn’t for the unexpected large oak tree waiting for me at the top.
“April!” Ben yelled.
I couldn’t stop in time, and knew I was going to hit it when I thought—why not climb it. With hands outstretched, and one giant leap, I reached out for a low limb and swung around like an athlete swinging on the uneven bars. I twirled around and landed with my feet firmly planted on the crooked limb. I stood overlooking the pasture ground in the distance as my head and heart slowed its pace. My skin burned from the rain and cold, but I didn’t care how much my body hurt, because I was alive.
“April Snow,” said a wide-eyed Ben. “You could have killed yourself!”
Still feeling the rush I had felt, I smiled at him.
“Yeah, but I didn’t.” I bent my legs at the knees and jumped from the limb to the ground below. “That was amazing!”
He shook his head. “Just because you have the ability doesn’t mean you are immune to getting hurt. One wrong move could have been disastrous.” He grabbed me by the shoulders, and gazed at me with his brown eyes that erupted with flecks of green that matched the green grass that still clung to life before winter set in. “Do you understand me, fledging?” His voice was stern, and my arrogant smile faded.
His eyes searched mine for an answer, and at that moment I realized something. Ben cared for me, and I mean truly cared for me. We barely knew each other, but the amount of time that was required to know and care for each other, was replaced by who we were. We were both monsters, and that was the only tie we needed.
“Why do you call me that? Fledging—what is it?” Ben had called me that a few times before.
“Because that’s what you are—a young bird that has just left the nest and still needs guidance so they don’t get decapitated when running ahead of their guardian who was trying to catch up to them.” His eyes widened with a slight amount of concerned anger.
I couldn’t help but to smile. “So, I can run faster than you?”
He wrapped his arm around me with a crooked smile as we walked towards home with the grey sky gently rumbling overhead.
“You won’t be for long if you don’t watch where you are going.”
Seth
Ayil’s home was a two-story white house that blended in with the rest of the homes here. It looked like they were all built at the same time as they were similar in design. Large oak trees lined the street and hovered over a few cars parked along curb. This was a sleepy town, which I could guess, nothing eventful ever happened here—a perfect place to traffic their serum.
“Please, make yourselves at home,” Ayil said, as she tossed her keys to a small table just inside the door. “Is this your first time to the human world?” She asked making sure the door was locked behind us.
“Yes, and I can’t believe how much it resembles Iethia.” Nessa quickly replied.
“You know my uncle, and you know what we are seeking after?” I asked as Ayil motioned for us to sit. “You understand the importance of our mission?”
“You don’t have to be so under-cover-agent, I know you are trying to find out who is distributing the serum—I worked with your uncle for many years. We are safe here with no one else listening in.” Ayil sat down on the couch just as a large cat jumped from the floor to her lap. “Well, I guess there is one, but she can’t understand what we say.” She stroked the calico cat as its green eyes formed slits and it began to purr.
“It’s late and I’m sure all of you are exhausted. We can discuss everything in the morning.”
There were three bedrooms, leaving Malachi and I to share a bed. I couldn’t sleep as Malachi was sleeping before his head hit the pillow. Too many thoughts ran through my mind as I stared up at the ceiling that glittered back at me. The house was quiet, and I listened to the furnace turn on and run its cycle three times before my eyes closed.
I was in a dream. I knew this because I was standing in front of Ezra. Her dark hair was pulled back, and her usual gauzing clothing was replaced with a black leather tunic and pants. A sheathed sword hung around her waist. Ezra was dressed in armor, but why?
“The Shadowlands are changing—war is breaking out.” Ezra’s tone was flat.
“War in the Shadowlands?” I asked almost amused.
Suddenly the background shifted behind Ezra. The gardens once filled with flowers and stages of places where we had been together were in shambles. Fire erupted in the distance coloring the sky in orange as plumes of smoke rolled in the once blue sky. Even the air smelled hot.
“Every one of us is forced to fight for the one thing that can change the Shadowlands forever. Demons are here, Seth.” Her eyes flickered. “The light orb that keeps this place in balance is in danger.” She looked over her shoulder. “My time here is short—I have to go.”
“Ezra, listen to me.” I grabbed onto her shoulders. “Cross over and leave the Shadowlands.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“You have
to! Listen to me!”
“The passage is controlled by demons. To pass would be giving into them. The Shadowlands are crumbling, and we are crumbling with it.”
I wanted to hold onto her tightly, and take her with me—to earth.
“Seth!” I heard Nessa call my name along with Malachi. They sounded like a cawing flock of annoying birds. “Seth!” They yelled again.
I curled my arms around Nessa and wished over and over again that Ezra could come with me. Something tingled inside of me, like a spark hissing in the air from a newly lit match. I hung onto that feeling and began to fuel it. Ezra wasn’t a warrior—she’d never make it in the Shadowlands, and I couldn’t lose her in that way.
I felt the light grow in strength, and when I couldn’t hold it in any more, I passed it to Ezra.
The fire-scape of the Shadowlands faded. I knew I was back at Ayil’s home, but I still hung onto someone. I opened my eyes expecting to see Nessa’s usual angry-concerned eyes, but instead, Ezra was starting back at me with her blue eyes filled with shock.
“I’m…” she whispered.
“You’re with me—it worked,” I said, with a smile as I looked at Ezra and then at the horrified faces of Nessa and Malachi.
“Seth…how in Hell did this happen?” Nessa stepped away with unblinking eyes.
“You brought back Ezra—from the Shadowlands.” Malachi crossed his arms and smirked. “New ability—for a monster. Bravo!”
“I’m here with you,” Ezra ran her hands over my shoulders and looked around the room. “I’m really here—really here!” She giggled as tears swelled in her eyes. “I’m out of the Shadowlands and here with you, Seth.” She tightened her grip on my hands.
“This is amazing and to answer your question, Nessa,” said Ayil leaning in the doorway with a mug in her hand. “This sort of thing can only be done by angels, and no ordinary angel.”
“But there was no angels in the Shadowlands,” Ezra said, looking over her shoulder at Ayil.
“No, there isn’t, but it seems Seth had acquired the ability quickly.” Ayil replied and stepped closer to us.
Sunlight poured into the room and illuminated everything in a golden glow. Ayil stood in a beam of light that made her grey hair sparkle with gold flecks. She smiled with her twinkling eyes.
“What do you mean acquired abilities?” Nessa asked standing in front of Ayil.
“You mean Seth is an angel,” Malachi said, with a pale face. “How…”
“Not an angel, but the abilities of one. To bring someone back from the Shadowlands takes strong powers—powers that can only belong to an archangel.”
4
April
I was still pumped up on how fast I had run, and not to mention, how I had outran Ben. My body stilled tingled with excitement at my newly found abilities. I felt a whole new world had opened up, and I finally had a place that I was beginning to fit into. Ben was kind and patient with me, but I sensed something wasn’t right at the same time it was. I couldn’t put what I felt into words, and didn’t know how to explain it to Ben, it would be too embarrassing. Instead, I pushed it away. I had had enough of pain and disappointments in my past. I wanted happiness and that happiness wasn’t going to be clouded by anything.
“Yolanda just contacted me, and we are to meet her on Friday.” Ben smiled as he put his phone on the table.
“Where at?” I asked.
“Not sure, she’ll let me know just before we leave.”
I looked around his house. “So, you’re just leaving everything? What will happen to this house? You just can’t leave without doing something to it.”
He laughed. “Oh April,” Ben said getting up and walking over to me. “You are truly a caring soul.” He curled his strong hands gently around mine. “That is why I chose you…” His phone began to vibrate on the table.
Ben read the text to himself.
“Who is it? Yolanda sending a message?”
“No,” he shoved the phone into his coat pocket. “Just a little monster business I need to attend to. Stay here and get some rest, because it will be a long trip to sanctuary.” Ben arranged the collar of his jacket, smiled, and planted a quick kiss on my forehead. “Be back in an hour.”
“But where are you going and why can’t I go with you?” I asked following him to the door.
“Be back,” Ben said with a click of the door.
I went to the window and watched him leave like lightning through the forest.
“Really, leaving me here,” I turned away from the window and crossed my arms. “I don’t think so.” I had the ability to run as fast as Ben, if not faster.
The cold air rushed past me as I darted through the forest. I followed Ben’s footprints and…scent. It was an earthy smell, like the first few warm days of spring when everything was finally thawed and just sprouting buds, leaves and flowers. I had noticed the scent briefly, and thought it was something in Ben’s house, not Ben. But it was him, and I could clearly follow it like a string tied from tree to tree.
I ran all the way to the outskirts of Westfall, a larger town a few miles from Ben’s home. It had a small strip mall, gas stations, several bars, and a high school. Looming in the thicket that lined the ditch, I gazed at that school that sat silent. Cars were parked in rows next to the brick building that had a circular drive in front of several glass doors. The American flag waved proudly in what looked like a rose garden surrounding it.
If I went there, I’d be graduating and getting ready to go to college. I had come to Westfall a few times when we would get to go on the rare outing from Sunrise Acres. I memorized the buildings, names of businesses, and streets that we drove by. Later, I’d mentally go down those streets and go into the shops with my made-up friends before I went home to have dinner with my made-up parents. How l longed to have that life, but knew it would never be.
I stepped out of the thicket and gazed at the school. I was so close to the life I had always wanted and knew I could never have it. Suddenly, the glass doors flew open and several people came out. Like a frightened rabbit, I scurried back into the bushes as to not be seen. I watched a group of girls get into a small red car with a dented fender that was parked straight out from my hiding spot.
I laid down in the ditch among the tall, yellow grass to make sure I wouldn’t get caught. They were going to Dairy Queen before they went to work I heard the last girl say before getting in with a slam of the door. I could be one of those girls. School…work…college…a future that I could decide, not the darkness that had followed me everywhere.
I watched them all leave until quietness surrounded me again. That life was never meant for me. I was a monster, whatever that meant I wasn’t sure yet. I’d never fit in here, and I knew it. Besides, Ben’s scent was still strong and tugged on my senses like a leash.
I pulled up my hood and followed the scent downtown. I walked past a café, furniture store, and a salon before the scent stopped. Buildings lined each side of the street; some had businesses in them while others sat vacant. A few cars were parked along the sidewalk and a few people went in and out of the café and into the salon that looked busy. Other than that, the town was quiet.
I sniffed the air and looked around. The sky was a solid grey and the wind had a small bite to it. I wasn’t sure where Ben had gone anyhow, and if I wasn’t at his house when he got back he’d probably be mad at me. I gave up trying to find him, and started to head back towards the timber when I was pulled to the ground and quickly dragged into a narrow alley.
“Delicious,” said a scratchy male voice. “Just right,” he said turning me over to face him.
Skin hung in rotting strips on his face, and his eyes were clouded, like he had cataracts. He gave toothless grin and chuckled as yellowed, pointed teeth poked out from his bloodied gums.
Repulsed and shocked, I wanted to scream, but couldn’t as he started to pull at my clothing.
“Must have you,” he groaned.
“No!” I
managed to yell as I tried to push him away.
He ripped off my jacket as he grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me back down to the hard ground. Lights flickered around me as my body went limp long enough for him to start to undo my pants. He was laughing and mumbling something to himself as he undid my belt and started to pull on my jean button when I knew I had to do something or be raped by this corpse.
“No!” I yelled through clenched teeth as I hit him in the jaw.
With a snap, his lower jaw flew off and hit the crumbling brick wall. He looked at it then at me as bone protruded from his loose flesh. His eyes squinted and turned blood red.
I raised my hand to hit him again, but his reflexes were quicker than mine. His bony fingers curled around my wrist cutting at my skin. I had to get him off of me and screamed out several times hoping someone from the busy salon or café would hear me. But no one came.
The only thing free was my legs, and with my right knee, I slammed it into his crotch. He yelled and rolled off of me as he moaned. I got up stepping away from him and turned to run when I ran into Ben.
Ben looked at me and then at the man.
“You can’t leave him like this,” he said, gazing down at him. “This is the longest I’ve seen a human live after consuming serum.” Ben turned me around towards the man that laid curled in a fetal position and whimpered. “He’s in misery—put him out of it.”
“What?” I asked. “I—I can’t. You’re the expert in that area.” I gazed down at the man who didn’t appear threatening anymore, but cried like an injured animal.
For a moment, I saw a flicker of a human being through his grotesque appearance. He was a man and he was suffering. Something had to be done.
Ben bent down beside him and pulled me next to him.
“It’s time you learned,” Ben said, as his eyes turned solid black.
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