His foot landed awkwardly just before he reached the door, sending a shrill of pain up his leg and into the pit of his stomach. It was only a moment of hesitation before he regained his stride, but in that moment, long, slender fingers had found their way around his shoulder. His back hit the ground before he realized he’d been thrown down and a weight pressed down on his chest with enough force to squeeze out whatever air was left in him.
“You.” The figure hissed, holding him firmly down with a shiny black boot. “You’re no hero.” The voice was distorted and rough, nearly unintelligible. “There are no heroes here.” The voice was louder this time, but no less distinguishable.
He realized the voice was in his head.
The weight upon his chest was relieved and the dark figure slowly backed away. “There are no heroes.” It hissed.
On shaking legs, Sky forced himself upright. He tried to judge the distance to the door, it was still his best option. “I’m not trying to be a hero.”
From the figure came a deep, guttural growl. “No heroes.”
A glint of metal caught Sky’s eye as the figure withdrew an old bullet-load gun from inside the folds of the flowing robes.
Sky’s hands shot out in a defensive manner, “Stop!” Desperation had found its way into his voice. “I don’t know what you want.”
A heavy laugh escaped from the shadowy depth of the hood and the figure lowered the gun slightly and straightened. “You will.”
Every cell in his body screamed in that instant to just run, but he found himself frozen to the ground.
If there was an opportunity, it was missed. The figure leveled the gun at him once again and let out a guttural, primal scream that was soon overpowered by the sound of the muzzle blast.
Chapter Twelve
There was a familiar sound in his head, steadily getting louder through the haze of unconsciousness. A bird maybe, an insect, or perhaps it was just a ringing in his ears. Sky opened his eyes slowly, the room was a blur, but it was definitely the fuzzy outline of his room. The old crack in the ceiling above his bed led his eyes into focus just as a loud knock sounded on his bedroom door.
The quick stutter of knocks gave Al away even before his voice made it through the thick wooden door. “Are you in there, Sky?”
He held a hand to his temple, the dull ache behind his eyes made him cringe at the sound of his friend’s cheerful call. No voice could be found through the rough, dry desert that was his mouth when he lifted his head to respond.
Soon, there was a mess of golden curls poking through his doorway. “So, you are alive.” Al laughed too loudly as he sprang into the room. “Come on man, get up.” He slapped the nightstand firmly.
Sky felt a twist in his gut, but he didn’t know why. He wanted to think, but his brain felt muddy. He looked around the room, moving his head slowly with the fear that if he moved too fast, he might miss something important.
From the stack of magazines on the nightstand, to the Academy uniform hanging on the door, everything looked to be in order.
“Man, are you going to barf?” Al put on a disgusted face and took a step back. “You look like you were out all night. What, did you stop at a tank on the way back?”
“No.” Sky shook his head, squelching up his face and covering his eyes, as Al threw open the blinds.
“You weren’t at the stop so I figured you accidently slept in, and after yesterday, I guess I was a little worried too. What are you wearing?” Al looked over his shoulder at him as he undid the latch to the window.
Sky blinked heavily and looked down, “I think they’re pajamas.”
Al gave half a smile and heaved the window open. “He’s alive. But we’re going to be a few minutes late. You can go on ahead if you want.” He leaned out the window and yelled out into the open air.
Al’s voice was like thunder inside his skull. Sky winced and couldn’t help his hands from covering his ears, “Who are you shouting at?”
“Lee came with me, he was worried too.” Al looked quizzically at him, “You sure you’re all right?”
“Lee?” The name was familiar, like a name he should really know.
“Yeah, Lee. Big guy, red hair. Lives in that creepy old stone house a few miles down. Rides the transport with us every day.”
Sky nodded since it seemed the right thing to do.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Al’s small face twisted up in concern.
Sky was pretty certain he didn’t answer him the first time. “Yeah. Just a little tired. I don’t think I slept very well.”
“I can’t tell, you look amazing. Now, get dressed, we’ll meet you downstairs.” Al was at the door before Sky realized he had crossed the room. “I was kidding, by the way - you look awful.”
The sound of the door closing brought him temporary relief. A deep intake of air helped to clear his head. He swung his legs over the side of the bed until they were greeted by the warm wood of the floor. Sky tried to stand, but a stab of pain in his chest brought him back down to the bed. With a grit of his teeth he was able to stand and begin the long journey across the worn out planks. He shuffled towards the door he wondered if he really was getting sick. The dull ache of his body, the burn in his chest, the haze in his brain – he had never felt so…off.
He tried to piece together the remnants of his dream into something coherent. It had been so vivid and real at the time, but as his mind slowly began to shake the fog of unconsciousness, it fell into scattered bits of haphazard imagery. Sky pulled off his shirt, a shirt two sizes too small, and rubbed at his chest, knowing the lingering ache was simply his overactive imagination.
“There are no heroes.” He said aloud in the empty room. There was no context to put the phrase in, but the words still rang clear in his mind.
Al called out to him again, urging him to hurry up. Throwing on his uniform and gathering what he hoped was the right assortment of books from the heap on his desk he rushed out of his room. Once in the hallway, he was stopped by the ornate mirror that hung on too thin a wire. It wasn’t his face that caught his attention, but a memory. Setting down the books onto the table below the mirror; he found himself mesmerized by his own reflection. It was the strangest feeling that crept its way out from the pit of his stomach. His head snapped right and he stared through the doorway into his room. The feeling of unease began to overtake his senses – pulling at him like unseen arms, urging him to retreat downstairs. But, no, there was something he was missing. Something he needed to go back for.
Al bellowed again at him, but his voice was just a noise with no meaning. Sky’s body began to tense as he crossed the threshold into his room as if preparing for an attack. A burning sensation in his chest radiated outward into every inch of his body. What was it? What was making him so uneasy?
A hand clamped down onto his shoulder. He let out a cry of surprise and spun around, thrusting his arms out.
“Seriously?” Al jumped back, his hands raised in alarm.
“Is everything all right? We were concerned.” Lee towered just behind Al.
Raising a hand to his head he let out a long exhale, trying to calm his racing heart. “I’m sorry guys. I just…” He looked around his room. What was wrong with him?
“You are distressed.” Lee uncrossed his arms and took a long stride forward, “I do not mean to pry, but I can not help but hear the turmoil that is surrounding you.”
“No, I know. I think really loud. I’ve been told that a few times.” He hadn’t met many telepaths in his life, but every one that he did cross paths with told him the same thing.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Al’s chin rose – he was putting on his serious face.
Seeing Al in such a state made it even harder to say, “I had a bad dream.”
Al stared at him for a beat. He just looked at him with a stone cold expression of concern before raising his left eyebrow ever so slightly. “Lee, this is more serious than we thought. We’re going to need some
nightlights and a whole lot of teddy bears. I’ll check to make sure he didn’t wet the bed.”
“What is a teddy bear?” Lee mumbled as Al walked past Sky into the center of the room.
“Al, I know it sounds stupid,” to say the least, “but it’s really got me freaked out.” He pleaded. “You know I’m not one to make a big deal out of things.”
“On Agon we take our dreams very seriously.” Lee nodded, once again crossing his arms over his broad chest.
“I’m pretty sure you guys take everything very seriously.” Al plopped himself down onto the bed, back to his normal lighthearted self.
“You think it was more than a dream though, am I correct?” Lee turned his full attention over to Sky.
He didn’t know how to respond. Lee had read deeper into his thoughts than he did. Sky rubbed at the back of his stiff neck, unsure of what to say.
“You do not have to say it, but if you did choose to, I would agree with you.”
Sky’s ears perked up and he finally met Lee’s unfaltering gaze.
“There is an energy in here.” Lee went on. “It is unfamiliar and I would have to say…unpleasant.”
Al’s interest was caught; he bounced up from the bed and looked around the room.
“I don’t understand.” Sky shook his head.
“Yeah, I feel it too.” Al had his eyes closed in concentration. “It’s really faint, but there is, like this, real heavy energy hanging around.”
“What was the dream about?” Lee asked.
He found it harder to remember, now that he had to. “I don’t really remember much, but basically I think there was somebody here. All I really remember is shadows…and pain.” He shook his head trying to shake loose any last bits of information that might be lodged deeper in his brain, but nothing came of it.
Al’s face twisted up, trying to hide a smile “That’s not really descriptive, at all.”
Lee’s face had gone slack. “Shadows, you say.” He whispered and backed up a step. “What do you remember about the shadows?”
Sky wasn’t sure what to make of his reaction. “I dunno. Like, this guy, he was made of shadows.” He could almost see the swirls and billows of the blackness that surrounded him.
Lee regained most of his composure and straightened his already straight back, “I see.” He said simply.
“Shadows, eh?” Al had wandered over to the far wall, “Hey, didn’t you used to have a bunch of bottles and crap here?” He pointed up to the empty shelf that hung above his head.
“I don’t think so.” Sky turned his mouth down. He didn’t even realize he had a shelf in his room. “Maybe.” He shrugged.
Al gave him a quizzical look, “Do you think someone was actually here?”
Sky wasn’t sure who the question was directed at.
“Perhaps.” Lee nodded.
No, that couldn’t be. “I think you guys are analyzing this too much. It was just a dream. No one was in my house.”
“The energy in this room, it is not pleasant.” Lee said again, his eyebrows coming together in his most serious face yet.
“You’re probably just sensing Zero’s residual power. He’s a Telic that lives here and he’s got tons of negative energy, right Al?” Sky tried to justify it the best he could.
“He’s got quite the anger management issues, but he’s not…” Al paused and let his eyes drift around the room, “evil.”
“You feel it too?” Lee looked to Al, “The malevolence of the energy?”
“Whatever. It’s gone now. Let’s just get going. We’re already going to be super late.” Sky walked briskly past Lee and out into the hallway. “I’m sorry, guys.”
“Skyden,” Lee started.
“It was just a stupid dream, I didn’t mean to drag you guys into my craziness.” He grabbed the books from the table and started towards the stairs.
“Have you ever heard of the Man of Mist?” Lee raised his voice just enough to make sure it rang out clear amongst the adorable décor. “He is ruthless - a gun for hire, assassin, mercenary, whatever the job requires.” He stepped out of the room. “He is often described as being made of shadows because he uses illusion to overpower his victims.”
Al hovered behind him, his eyes wide with intrigue.
“Skyden, if it is true and he was here, would you have any idea why?” Lee took another measured step forward, “Do you know why he was here?”
His presence was by no means menacing, but still, the air around him had shifted to something colder. Sky backed up slightly, bringing his assortment of books to his chest.
“What are you thinking, Lee?” Al asked from behind him.
“Before I came here, I was warned about the Man of Mist, that he may come.” Lee turned slightly.
“What do you mean? Why would he come here?” Sky didn’t know if he wanted the answer, not with the way Lee was shifting around in obvious anxiety.
Lee’s eyes darted around the hallway nervously for a moment before coming to a rest on the floor at Sky’s feet. “I have not been entirely honest with either of you. My being here is actually due to a mission that I am on. Although my admission into REALM is genuine, my true purpose here is to protect Allen Kane. The client feared he would be the target of possible kidnapping attempts...or worse.” He said solidly.
Sky suddenly wished Al was beside him, and not beyond his reach behind this giant of a young man. “Mission? Who hired you?”
“It was a mission on the central Agonian job board. I took it only because it was as far away from my home as I could get. I am to protect Allen, I mean none of you harm.” Lee pleaded at him before turning his attention to Al, “I was going to tell you, but I must admit, until now, I did not think of the mission much.” He stepped back, pushing his back into the wall so he could see both of them at the same time. “All I wanted was to leave Agon on legitimate terms and study at REALM.” His voice verged on pleading, “Forgive me for not taking my mission more seriously. Your pain, Skyden, is my fault.”
Al chuckled to break the hanging silence. “Don’t blame yourself, big guy.” He squeezed passed Lee and started down the hallway. “But who the heck would put out a job to protect me? That’s got to be the strangest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Sky followed slowly behind Al. “Even if any of this actually makes sense, there still isn’t much to connect Lee being hired to guard you and my home being broken into.”
“There is more.” Lee said, bringing up the rear as they maneuvered through the narrow hallway. “Before I left, my father approached me with his own theory on my mission.”
“Which was..?” Al bounded down the stairs, keeping an ear towards them.
“My father believed that the only reason the Kane family would need protection was if someone was after the Book of Nine. He believes that your Telic mother is the one who is in possession of it.”
“Well, he’s right. She’s got it, that’s never really been a secret – any Telic could tell you that. Maybe whoever broke in here figured there might be clues here because of my uncle Zero.” Al pulled his shoulders up. “But, I don’t know what anyone would expect to find, or would want from me. It’s not like I know where she is. She disappeared without a trace years ago.”
Seven years ago to be exact. His mom had always been a free spirit, the Prophet Oh’May, but to just up and leave like that had always seemed so selfish, but Al had made his peace with it somehow.
Al led them outside where they gathered, not really sure how to proceed.
“We can still make it in time for second period if we leave now.” Sky shrugged, even though school was the last place he wanted to go.
After a round of nodding heads they began the journey up the hill towards the crossroads.
“Should we call the authorities?” Lee was the first to break the silence that had come between them.
“And tell them what exactly?” Sky shook his head. “Some shadowy guy broke into my house but didn’t steal anything or hurt
me and fought me with, what did you call it? Illusions? I would sound crazier then they already think I am.”
“I do not feel you are taking it serious enough. We do not know what we are up against or what lengths they will go to in order to get what they want.” Lee’s tone had a sense of urgency.
“Oh, come on.” Sky interjected. “Whoever it was…” He thought back to the blackness of those flowing robes made from the shadows, “If it really wasn’t just a dream…” Words and feelings were all he could remember now, aside from the hypnotizing movements of the darkness and the weight of the air. “It was just a dream.” He said without even realizing.
“The Man of Mist…” Al contemplated, “I have heard of him, mostly from my dad. He sounds like bad news.”
“His record is unblemished by failure.” The dramatic pause after Lee’s statement hung for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“This is insane.” Sky scoffed. “A crazy nightmare assassin! You hear yourself right?” Sky shook his head, trying to laugh it off, “Just what’s in this book?”
“I do not know.” Lee let out an exasperated sigh. “But what you have described falls into place with my greatest fears, and add to it your continuing denial of reality is testament to that. Your mind is still reluctant to let go of the lies it was fed.”
Sky rolled his head back and forth, “Gaah. I still don’t buy it. What’s in there that’s so great?” He looked to Al for an answer, but got nothing but a shrug in response.
“I’m not sure. All I know is, it’s passed down from generation to generation and only the Telic in charge of its keeping, is allowed to read it.” Al concluded, keeping perfect pace with Lee’s long strides.
“Has there been any other research done on it that would lead us to something a bit more substantial?” Lee questioned as they got to the transport stop.
“Maybe.” The wheels in Al’s head were almost visibly turning as he rocked back and forth. “What do you say we skip class and do some investigating using the Academies resources?” Al stopped his fidgeting and looked to Lee. “They’ve got at least half a dozen rooms full of research papers, not to mention the Grand Literature Library. Let’s just see what we can find out about this Book of Nine.”
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