Shadowed (The Shadow and Moon Series)

by Michelle Areaux

  Suddenly, a set of bright yellow headlights filtered in through the living room window and we all stopped talking and moving. Cohen grabbed me and Amy and pulled us behind him.

  He was acting so strange and it was starting to really freak me out.

  “Ok, someone needs to tell me what is going on?” Amy demanded.

  “Why would someone be following us?” I asked. I was ignoring Amy and focused all of my attention on Cohen.

  We were both staring Cohen down, but he didn’t even seem to notice. His eyes stayed glued outside the window.

  I walked over and grabbed his hand. A volt of electricity coursed through me and I jumped at the sting.

  Cohen’s eyes flashed to mine and I knew he felt the shock too. “If I were to tell you what is going on, you would never believe me,” Cohen said through clenched teeth.

  “Try me,” I urged, folding my arms across my chest. Part of me wanted to appear domineering so he would realize how serious I was, and part of me wanted to keep my hands from reaching out and touching him again. That shock had been so intense-- so surreal, I wanted to do it again.

  Cohen turned around and for the first time, I saw fear flash through his eyes. “I need you both to sit down,” he stated, waving toward the couch.

  Hesitantly, Amy and I exchanged glances before going to sit down on the couch.

  Waking behind us, Cohen released a heavy breath and then stood before us. “What I am about to tell you both might sound crazy, but it is all true. I just need you both to promise to listen to everything I have to say before you say anything,” he urged.

  Nodding my head, I internally prepared myself for what Cohen was about to say.

  Chapter 11

  How did we get here?

  One minute I was walking with Cohen, enjoying a nice evening and considering if I had feelings for him and then the next minutes we were being chased by some unknown car.

  Now, I sit on my living room couch and await an explanation from Cohen.

  My heart is pounding and my legs are shaking. For some reason, I am beyond nervous to hear what he has to say.

  Amy looks angry and as scared as I am, too. Something about Cohen and his family is odd. They are different and something tells me I am about to find out just how different they really are.

  Clearing his throat, Cohen runs a hand through his hair before opening his mouth to speak. “Ok, if my family I was telling you this…” he pauses and he closes his eyes briefly.

  I place my hand on Amy’s and we wait, allowing Cohen to gain the confidence to say what he needs to say. Clearly, this is difficult and we must be patient.

  Finally, he speaks again. “I’m not like anyone you have ever met,” he said calmly.

  “What does that mean?” Amy asks, and I have to squeeze her hand to remind her to be patient with Cohen.

  “I’m different. Not from this world,” he said. He stands there watching our expressions but doesn’t say anything else. I give him time, but after what feels like forever, my patience is exhausted.

  “What does that mean?” I asked, anger starting to take over.

  If he was messing with me, I wanted to just end this conversation and get out of here fast. Anger and confusion were clouding my mind and I wasn’t sure what was right anymore.

  “It means, I don’t come from the same world that you do.”

  I burst out laughing despite myself. He wasn’t serious, was he? From the way Cohen’s stern face never changed, I realized he was telling me the truth.

  “Oh, you mean, you moved here from a big city? Another country?” I asked, my own curiosity getting the best of me.

  Shaking his head, he looked at me solemnly. “More like, not from this world,” he states, looking down at his shaking hands.

  My heart threatens to jump into my throat and I have to swallow it back down.

  “Where did you come from?” I ask. I’m not sure I am ready to hear his answer. I have never been one to believe in things that are unexplainable, but right now, anything is possible.

  “You aren’t like other guys I’ve met,” I added, looking at Cohen and urging him to continue.

  His eyes glisten over as we make eye contact. He sees that I am ready and willing to listen to him. That I trust him enough right now to believe what he has to say.

  “There are people after my family. There are people living among you that aren’t exactly--human. Always has been. Back in the 1950’s, an Army base was established in Richland, Washington. They handled chemicals and missiles that the Army used. There was an explosion after some of the deadly chemicals leaked. The Army and government kept it quiet from the rest of the country, but it caused problems in those that were affected. My dad worked there at the time.”

  Wait, I have seen Cohen’s dad. He looks no older than my dad. That can’t be right. If he worked there in the 50’s, he would have to be in his seventies or eighties. Seeing the confusion on my face, Cohen continues on. “What happened to those that worked with the chemicals was deadly. Some died from complications, others were captured and imprisoned. My dad escaped, taking my mom with him. They had just married when he began working at the base. Because she was in contact with my dad, the chemicals affected her, too. At the time, she was pregnant with my brother. The chemicals changed their bodies. Caused them to become...radioactive.”

  “Hold on, what does that mean?” I ask. I hold my hand up to stop him, allowing me time to process this information

  “The chemicals caused my dad to stop aging. It put his body in a zombie-like state. My mom and brother, too. My parents began moving, trying to escape the government who wanted to capture them and stop them from telling the world what had happened. From what my dad told me; it was insanely disturbing. People were killed or they fled-- no one truly survived. If the world had found out, it would have ruined so many levels of the Army and government. But, my parents just wanted to live. They didn’t want to cause any trouble or announce to the world what had happened. They had always been private about their lives and that’s how they wanted it to continue. After my sister was born, my parents realized that the lasting effects of the chemicals had been passed down to their offspring. While we age, it is at a much slower pace than most humans.”

  I close my eyes and try to digest what he told us. While it all sounds like a plot from a comic or a Marvel movie, I can’t help but believe what Cohen is telling us. I had heard about the bases in Richland. I didn’t know the extent of the history involved, but there had always been Army bases in and around Washington. To know that something so wicked and awful had happened there, made my stomach churn.

  “Wait, I saw the gold tattoo that you and Cara have. Is that part of this?” I asked.

  “Yes, the chemicals caused our skin to change into that strange tattoo. We all have it, it marks us and shows the government officials who we truly are.”

  “Is the president involved in this?” I wasn’t sure how far into the government this went.

  “No. Only a few officials know the truth of what went on. Lies were told and documents hidden. It is disgusting that these trusted officials could manipulate so many,” he stated, shaking his head in anger.

  “So, what does that mean for you and your family?” I ask.

  Amy turns to look at me and I see tears in her eyes. I can tell that she, too, believes what Cohen is telling us.

  “There is a bureau of the FBI that hunts down people like us. They want to put us in some type of camp and run tests on us. But, we have managed to escape them-- at least most of us have. We have had to move every few years to keep people from questioning why we aren’t aging. If you were to tell anyone, my entire family would be killed. We are outlaws, not just aliens who the government wants to capture and test. But we are criminals in their eyes.”

  “I won’t tell anyone,” I whisper. My mouth feels dry and I barely manage to get the words out.

  “Me either,” Amy confirms. �
�This is all so...strange.”

  “It is life or death. I told you both because you are now part of my life. In one way or another,” Cohen states, glancing between me and Amy. His eyes remain on me longer and I can’t help but feel my cheeks heat.

  Everything that Cohen just told us swirls in my head. It all somehow makes sense: The privacy... The strange behavior... The car following us.

  Wait, the SUV that nearly ran me over!

  “The day after school. When that SUV almost ran me over. Was that…” I trailed off, unsure of even how to ask my question.

  “Yes, I am almost certain that one of the government officials after us was in that SUV. They were probably coming for me, but you just happened to be in their path,” Cohen stated, confirming my thoughts.

  “What about that guy I saw you talking to? I also saw him on the streets with your brother and sister.” My mind was swirling now.

  Sighing, Cohen looked conflicted. “That is Beau. He is from one of the families that left when my parents did. He and I have stayed in contact over the years, mainly because we are similar in age. He came to warn me. He said that being with you was dangerous. That we would be tipped off soon enough. They are dangerous and have no problem hurting other people to get to us. If you were to say anything…” he trailed off, because this time I stopped him.

  “I swear I would never tell anyone,” I stated, my voice shaking. “What can we do to help?”

  Cohen thinks this over for a minute and then he squats down in front of us. Taking my hands in his, he surprises me and I gasp. His eyes are intense and there is a fire blazing inside them. Amy looks at us and I can hear her release a small gasp, too.

  “Henley, you have to promise that you will never speak of this. If my family were to discover that someone might be after me or that I told you… we would have to leave. I don’t want to leave you.”

  His words sink deep down into my heart and soul and something changes inside of me. A feeling I have never felt before takes over and, suddenly, I want nothing more than to keep Cohen here forever. Regardless of the dangers involved.

  “I will never tell a soul,” I added, smiling slightly at him.

  Taking me in his arms, Cohen holds me tightly against him. It is strange at first, but as I allow myself to relax and fall into his embrace, I find it strangely comforting. He exhales a deep breath and I hold him tighter. “Thank you, Henley,” he whispers into my ear.

  I hold onto Cohen and realize that my life just completely changed forever.

  Chapter 12

  Life sure has a funny way of hitting you and knocking you down, just at the right moments in life.

  Sure, I had been living a quiet and peaceful life before Cohen arrived, but was I truly living? I had Amy, but we were outcasts-- by choice and by necessity. My life had become mundane and the excitement that most teens felt daily, just wasn’t there for me.

  Gloomy, that would be the perfect adjective to describe my life. I knew life would change, it had to. I expected that. It was expected that I would grow up and find my way. This, I was expecting, too.

  But, what had occurred since Cohen wasn’t expected.

  I felt like there was this invisible predator tracking us down now. Maybe they weren’t invisible to Cohen, obviously they had a form and he had been running from them all of his life. But for me, that invisible predator threatened to take away the good that had slipped into my life. I couldn’t lose Cohen now that I found him. Now that I knew his truth.

  “What do we do now?” Amy asks, clearing her throat.

  Cohen and I had been so lost in ourselves, that we had forgotten she was still sitting there beside me on the couch. I wasn’t sure how long he and I had been hugging, but it was clearly long enough for Amy to get annoyed.

  “Right now, we go back to living life as normal. Well, as normal as can be expected,” Cohen slightly chuckles.

  “But, people were just chasing you. I promise I won’t say anything, but doesn’t this mean you have been outed?” Amy asks.

  I glare at her, wanting her to stop. But, she does have a point.

  “Henley and I lost them as we made the turn to our street. They don’t necessarily know it is us. I have been through this before. If we mysteriously pack up and leave, they will know it was us. If we continue living as normal, they shouldn’t pry any further. Unless…” Cohen stops talking and shakes his head. “For right now, we act as though it never happens,” he finishes.

  I can’t help but feel like he is keeping something from us, but I don’t press the issue any further. To be honest, I have heard enough tonight.

  “I need to get home before my family starts to worry,” Cohen says. He lets go of me and I stand up and walk him to the door.

  “Want me to come with you?” I ask.

  Nodding, Cohen smiles and takes my hand. The same shock registered with me and my heart pounds inside my chest.

  “I will be right here,” Amy says, giving me a knowing smile. I know this has been a lot for her to digest, too. Maybe a few minutes alone will be good for her.

  Cohen and I walk to the door and before he opens it, he looks out the window. I glance beside him and see that the street is empty, save for a few parked cars along the side. Cohen opens the door and a cool air sweeps through us.

  I shiver from the cold and Cohen pulls me into him. He is warm, much warmer than I am. I can’t help but wonder if his warmth comes from the radioactive chemicals in his body. I mean, the guy just told me his family has the government after him.

  An owl screeches in the night and we both stop walking. Laughing, Cohen squeezes my shoulder. “Nothing to worry about. Just an owl,” he states.

  We get to his house and we both stop walking. I don’t want him to leave, but I understand that he has to. His family will expect him home. They are oblivious to the fact that he just outed them tonight and possibly put their lives in danger. No big deal, right?

  “Thank you for trusting me with your secret,” I say, as he releases me and moves in front of me.

  The moon casts a shadow over his face and he is breathtaking under the glow.

  “Do you really believe me?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I say, making sure he understands how serious I am.

  “Most people would think I was crazy,” he muses. “This is why I have never had any friends or been able to get close to someone outside of my family. I want what my parents have. I want to live and be happy,” he sighs.

  “You deserve those things,” I say, smiling up at him.

  “Are you afraid to be here with me?” he asks. I can feel the intensity of his stare as he waits for my answer.

  I’m not sure what has transpired in his life before now, but he deserves to have someone on his side. “I’m not afraid,” I admit. I try to explain to him the best I can. “I was lonely before you arrived. I had Amy, but nothing else. What happened to your dad was awful, but it wasn’t his fault. You didn’t ask to be born into this. While it all still sounds crazy saying it aloud, I do believe you.”

  Sighing, Cohen smiles and leans down and takes me in for one last hug. “I never thought I would find you,” he whispers into the night air.

  I look up and really see him. He is nothing more than a lost boy, searching for a meaning to his life. Sure, he might be in a zombie-state, whatever that means, but he is still a boy.

  “I’ve always been here,” I say.

  “I don’t scare you? I mean, I don’t know exactly what I am. There isn’t a definition to search for what happened to my family.”

  “Honestly, you do scare me a little. Not because I am afraid of what has happened to you, but because there is a possibility that you could leave,” I admit.

  The words escape before I can think about them. I can’t believe I was so honest and vulnerable with Cohen.

  Suddenly, Cohen stops and his lips begin to move closer to mine. My breath falters; and as he places his lips on mine, I f
eel as though my world has just exploded like fireworks. This whirlwind of emotions is crashing down on me.

  When he moves away, I catch my breath. Smiling, Cohen takes a step back. “I swear to you there is nothing to worry about. I will do everything in my power to never have to leave here-- or to leave you,” he says, before turning and walking up to the front door.

  I stood there, frozen in place as I am still stunned by his kiss. I believe that Cohen will fight to stay here, but a terrible feeling settles deep down in my belly at the thought that there might be someone out there hunting down Cohen and his family. But, I can’t worry about that now. I just kissed Cohen and nothing will ruin this moment for me.

  Something catches my eye and as my eyes leave Cohen, I spot his sister at the window. She is angry and as she sees me watching her, she shuts the blinds and walks away. Well, maybe there is something that can ruin this moment after all.

  Chapter 13

  “What happened?” Amy shouts, as I walk through the front door.

  I have a giant smile plastered on my face and I can’t seem to get rid of it.

  “Nothing,” I lie, as I walk past her and flop down on the couch.

  “Don’t you dare tell me nothing,” Amy yells, falling down beside me. “I watched you two. I saw the kiss,” she giggles, wagging her eyebrows at me.

  “Eww, stalker,” I laugh.

  I lay there staring up at the ceiling with a wide, goofy grin on my face. I don’t care that Amy was creeping on me and Cohen. I had the most epic, mind-blowing kiss of my life, and it was amazing. That is, until I saw Cohen’s sister watching us.

  “Tell me everything,” Amy demands with a nudge.

  So, I tell her everything that transpired from the moment we left the house until I rushed back inside. Amy watches with animated smiles until I reach the point of the story where I mention Callie catching Cohen and I kissing.

  “So, are you two like a thing?” Amy asks, completely ignoring the elephant in the room; Callie.