Wayward

by Skye Knizley

  Anger boiled over inside Cadence and she ran after the Man in Black, crashing through the stairwell door and taking them two at a time. At the bottom she kicked through the rear door and stopped, scanning the near-empty lot for the fleeing man. She spotted him halfway to a waiting black sedan and pounded after him.

  “Hey! Hey, stop!”

  The Man in Black didn’t even slow, he simply half-turned and squeezed the barrel of the pistol he was carrying. Out of reflex, Cadence threw up her hands as if she could stop the bullets and stared in amazement as a shield of shimmering blue energy rose in front of her. The three bullets spun to a stop against the shield and fell to the snow, where they steamed slightly in the night.

  “It’s her!” The man said. “Help me bring her in!”

  The shield vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and Cadence charged, screaming in fear and fury. She reached the fleeing man before he could fire again and kicked the weapon from his hand. As he tried to recover, she spun and rammed her elbow into his face, knocking him to the snow with blood trailing from his nose.

  She didn’t have time to wonder how she’d accomplished such a feat or where the skills had come from, the second man was unfolding from the car like the wrath of kings. He was larger than the first and looked more like he’d been stuffed into the suit rather than dressed himself. He was holding a long barreled, bolt-action pistol in his hands.

  “Stop!” He ordered. “Do not make me kill you.”

  “Fuck you!” Cadence replied. She pivoted on the ball of her foot and snapped a kick at his head. It was like kicking concrete, but he still grunted in pain and fell back against the car. She ducked under his wild haymaker and slammed her fist into his face, which didn’t have the expected effect. Rather than spitting teeth, the big man frowned and pushed her away with such force she tumbled head over heels into the snow, where she lay dazed.

  “You will come with us,” he said, raising the weapon. His accent was unfamiliar, but definitely not American.

  Cadence spit snow and wiped her mouth. “Why? What do you want with me?”

  “That is classified.”

  He squeezed the trigger and Cadence raised her shield, bringing it into being with one hand. The strange-looking dart stopped in mid-air just inches from her face and she could see it carried a vial of glowing blue liquid between the injector tip and the fletching.

  It fell as she stood and faced off against him. “I’m not going with you. Why did you kill my father?”

  “That is classified,” he repeated, stepping closer.

  “You sound like a broken record,” Cadence said. “Who sent you?”

  He opened his mouth, and she knew he was going to repeat himself yet again. Rather than listen to the annoying phrase, she punched him in the stomach then tried to sweep his legs from beneath him, only to find herself unable to move his bulk. She stopped dead against his legs and he picked her up by the throat with only one hand.

  “My intention is not to hurt you. But I will,” he grated.

  Cadence struggled in his grip, trying to shake him loose, and spotted Nikki running out of the stairwell.

  “Get back!” she choked, hoping Nikki wouldn’t risk herself. She should have known better. The smaller woman charged across the lot, screaming “put her down, you bastard” and waving her fists as if they wouldn’t be useless against his skin. Cadence watched in horror as the big man slapped her away with his free hand as if she was nothing but an annoying insect. Nikki’s head snapped back and she flew backward into a parked car before falling to the ground, unconscious and bleeding.

  “Nikki! Oh Goddess,” Cadence choked.

  “Civilian casualties are acceptable,” the man said. “You should have come quietly.”

  Something snapped inside Cadence’s mind. She felt it rising, a tide of fear, anger and despair that escaped her lips in a blood-curdling scream. All around, streetlights sparked and flamed in the night, car windows collapsed on themselves and pavement cracked. She watched with a mix of horror and satisfaction as the man’s skin peeled back and flaked off, revealing a skull made from stone. It, too, began to flake away and the man screamed in pain and surprise. He let go of Cadence and clamped his hands over his face, but it was too late. He fell to the ground a moment later and lay still, black ichor leaking from his wounds.

  On hands and knees, Cadence crawled to Nikki’s side. There was a lot of blood running across the pavement and her breathing sounded labored, like a clogged snorkel, but she clung to life.

  Without a word, Cadence lifted her and carried her into the hospital, all the while praying to whatever God or Goddess watched over her that her girl would survive. If she’d believed in the devil, she’d have offered her soul, if that was what it took. She couldn’t stand another loss, not now, not ever.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The waiting room was cold, dark and smelled faintly of despair. Cadence sat alone in one of the orange plastic chairs, staring at her feet. Chief Torres had given her the news that Phoenix was dead and had told her she would have a few days to gather her things before child services was called. She’d be given time to say goodbye to the only father she’d ever known and attend the funeral. If no family was available, she would be moved downstate to a home for girls until a Foster was found.

  He’d also done a cursory report about the incident in the parking lot. Cadence had lied as little as possible, stating that she’d chased two men from Phoenix’s room and been attacked herself. Nikki had gotten in the way, and that was how she got injured. Torres wasn’t satisfied with the response, especially considering only one man was found in the parking lot. The strange man of stone had vanished, leaving a crushed car and his partner and a lot of questions behind.

  Cadence didn’t care if he believed her or not, all she cared about was Nikki, and these strange abilities she had. Before, there really hadn’t been time to think about it, she could only react. Now, waiting to hear about Nikki, she had all the time in the world and she was afraid. What was she? Where did these powers come from and how did she control them? Was she psychic? A freak of nature? Were these abilities why she was left for dead in the first place?

  She had too many questions and no answers. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t remember anything beyond the day she woke up in the trunk of that old car. One thing was for certain, though. She was dangerous and people would kill to find her. Phoenix was dead because of her, Nikki was in critical condition, who else?

  “Cadence?”

  Cadence looked up to see Jerry, Nikki’s father, standing in the doorway. He looked worried, with wide eyes and disheveled hair. She stood and walked over to hug him.

  “Is there any news?” He asked, ending the hug.

  “No, sir. She had a broken arm and bleeding, they wouldn’t tell me much more,” Cadence said.

  Jerry’s reply was interrupted by the approach of a nurse. “Mr. Bennet? Nicole is in recovery, you can see her now.”

  She held the door open and Jerry rushed through so fast his coat trailed behind him like a cape. Cadence moved to follow and was stopped by the nurse.

  “Family only, Miss Phoenix,” she said.

  Cadence blinked in surprise. “But−”

  The nurse shook her head. “No, ma’am. I sympathize, but visiting hours are over and you’ve had a terrible night. You should get some rest.”

  “I can’t rest, Nikki is my girlfriend, I need to know she’s alright!” Cadence shouted.

  The nurse raised a disapproving eyebrow. “Be that as it may, you aren’t family and rules are rules. You can see her in the morning. Excuse me, I have to see to Mr. Bennet.”

  The door closed, and Cadence caught it with one hand, all but pressing her nose to the tiny window that looked into the corridor beyond. It was good news that Nikki wasn’t in intensive care, but not good tha
t they hadn’t given her a prognosis or even said: “she’s okay.” That worried her more than she was willing to admit.

  Through the window she saw Jerry enter a room about halfway down the corridor, followed by the nurse. Everything was quiet, then, and Cadence turned away. She was tempted to charge down the hallway anyway. What would they do, arrest her?

  As she turned back to the door, ready to run to Nikki’s side, consequences be damned, a horrifying thought struck her and she stopped dead. What if the nurse wouldn’t let her in because Nikki didn’t want to see her? It was her fault Nikki had gotten hurt in the first place. What if she’d instructed the nurse not to let her in? What if she was angry?

  Cadence backed away from the door, then turned and hurried for the exit, almost running in her fear. The best thing she could do now was go home before anyone else got hurt.

  Outside, she slid behind the wheel of her car and rested her head on the cold steering wheel. She’d fought tears until she was safely hidden from prying eyes, and now they rolled down her cheeks in a torrent. Phoenix was gone, Nikki..., she had no family and soon child services would take her away from the only home she’d ever known. It didn’t matter, without Phoenix the house was just a big box with junk in it, it wasn’t a home. But a foster family? That wasn’t exactly appealing. She knew that many foster parents were amazing, kind and generous, but she was aware that just as many gamed the system and took advantage, using children instead of raising them. The idea of being stuck with a family like that, especially after the loss of her adoptive father, made her feel sick inside. But what else could she do?

  “Run,” a voice said. Cadence turned her head and almost jumped when Phoenix appeared in the seat beside her, still dressed in his uniform.

  “Dad?” She whispered. She knew she should have been terrified, and maybe part of her was. Ghosts weren’t a normal sight even on Hallowe’en, twice during Christmas was a bit much, but she was emotionally numb and too physically exhausted to feel anything.

  Phoenix smiled. “In the flesh, so to speak. You have to run, kiddo, get out of here.”

  “Run where? How?” Cadence asked, waving her hand at the world in general. “I don’t have any money, I don’t know anyone, how am I supposed to run?”

  Phoenix turned and there were tears in his eyes. “I wish I had more answers, CJ, I do. Go to the house, I’ve got a small stash of money under the mattress, the rainy day fund I was saving for summer. Take that and your stuff and get gone before those bastards show up again.”

  “I can’t!” Cadence wailed. “I’m just a kid!”

  “You can, honey,” Phoenix said. “You’re the strongest kid I’ve ever met, tough, smart and sweet. You can handle whatever this life throws at you, I know it. Have faith, kiddo.”

  He smiled and Cadence felt his gentle hand wipe the tears from her cheeks. “I’m proud of you, have been since the first day at the hospital.”

  She reached for his hand and felt resistance. Not skin, exactly, but energy that tickled her fingers. “I’m scared. These powers, those men−”

  “I know, and I wish I could be here to help you through it, but you have to get somewhere safe,” Phoenix said. “It’s my time to go. You’ll find another ally, I promise, and I will watch over you, always.”

  Light shined down from above and he began to fade into the glow. Cadence tried to hold onto him, but it was like trying to grab the waves on an ocean, he just slipped away into the light. Once he was gone, the light faded again. The car was cold in his absence, joyless.

  She started the engine more for the heat than any intent to drive, wishing for all the world none of this was happening. After a time, she put the car in gear and drove across town to the house she’d shared these happy months. It didn’t look like much, now. Somehow it looked empty, unlived in. Cadence knew that was in her head, that homes didn’t really die after their owners passed, but the feeling persisted. The last thing she wanted to do was step into that house.

  The Mustang’s breaks squeaked as she pulled into the driveway. She sat there for almost an hour before getting out and walking up the path. The front door was unlocked, as it often was, and she stepped into the foyer adjacent the living room. The moment her feet touched carpet, the tears came. She fell against the door, causing it to slam shut, and sank to the floor, sobbing. It would be some time before she moved again.

  ***

  Cadence woke to the warmth of sunlight on her face, which was stuck to the carpet with dried tears. She sat up and rubbed circulation back into her body while she glared in annoyance at the morning rays streaming through the kitchen window. She didn’t remember falling asleep, only collapsing into the ugliest cry she could remember, then the cold blackness of exhaustion.

  She glanced at the clock and saw that it was half past eight, she’d slept six hours. The thought made fear course through her, if the Men in Black knew who Phoenix was, did they know who she was, too?

  No. The man in the parking lot hadn’t known her name, at least she didn’t think so. He’d been there for Phoenix because of the license plate, nothing more. If they knew where she lived, they would have been there before now. It wouldn’t take them long to figure out that the girl in the hospital parking lot was Phoe’s adopted daughter, though. It had been plastered all over the newspaper, ‘Miracle Girl Adopted by Local Hero.’

  She climbed to her feet and shot the deadbolt on the door behind her before hurrying down the hall to her bathroom. After using the facilities she turned on the shower to get it nice and hot, then returned to the kitchen where she toasted a bagel and smeared it with peanut butter. That would quiet the beast her stomach was becoming, and eating would give her time to think. Phoenix told her to run, and she trusted him, even if he’d been a spirit or hallucination. But where to, exactly? She didn’t know anyone and she couldn’t remember if she’d ever been anywhere else. She must have been, but when and where? That was the question without an answer.

  She finished her peanut butter and returned to the bathroom, discarding clothing as she walked. The shower was steaming hot and she stepped into the spray, letting it wash the tears, sweat and blood from her skin. She stood there for some time, wracking her brain for a direction, any direction, to go in. From the depths of her memories rose the name of a street, the one in the photograph Phoenix had found in the car. She and Nikki had spent weeks in the library scouring maps before finding a match in Austin, Texas. That was as good a place as any to start looking.

  Cadence blinked. Looking for what, the men who had done this? That seemed like a stupid thing to do. They were trying to kill her, what kind of idiot drove into the lion’s den? No, the best idea was to get as far away from Austin as she could.

  Later, dressed in clean jeans, a light sweater and boots, she packed a backpack with all the clothes, cosmetics, jewelry and keepsakes it would hold. When she was finished, she carried it to the living room and set it by the door before entering the garage. Phoenix had kept two heavy bags loaded with gear on a shelf at the back of the room. He called them ‘bug out bags’ and they were stocked with purified water, water iodine tablets, emergency rations, camping gear and first aid supplies. She carried them outside and stuck them in the trunk of her Mustang, along with Phoe’s spare pistol and a box of ammunition. She wasn’t technically allowed to carry a weapon, but she’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it, laws be damned.

  When she was finished loading the car, she returned to the house. Her guitar was in its case, and she carried it to the door before stopping outside Phoe’s room. She didn’t want to go in there, it seemed wrong to violate his sanctum now he was gone. But the hundred bucks she had in savings and the twenty in her pocket wouldn’t get her very far. She needed the cash he’d left behind.

  With a deep breath, she entered the quiet chamber. The bed was neatly made and he’d left a fresh uniform folded
on the chair beside it, along with a snack bar and an apple, all he would have eaten when he returned from his second shift. A fresh Police Gazette magazine lay on the night table, and a mystery novel was tented on the pillow. She’d told him a zillion times not to do that to books, but he never listened.

  She grabbed the novel and marked the page with the photo he kept of the two of them, then reached beneath the mattress. It took a few tries, but she eventually found the brown envelope he’d stuffed there. It contained about two thousand dollars in small bills, enough, at least, to get her going.

  She took one last look at the room, then left. There was nothing but memories here now, and she would carry them with her.

  Outside, she started the Mustang and guided it out of town for the first time since awakening. She drove toward the rising sun, hoping it wasn’t the worst mistake she’d ever made.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Present Day

  Dawn broke, and Cadence sat up, a scream still echoing off the walls. She could see the gentle glow of the sun through the motel drapes, feel the difference in the air that only pre-dawn light makes. The room had grown colder during the night, and condensation covered the window.

  She slid out of bed, turned on the heat and adjourned to the restroom, where she showered and applied light cosmetics before donning a clean pair of jeans, boots and a tank top to go under her vintage jacket. She then repacked her backpack, slung it over her shoulder and stepped out into the crisp morning air. The sun hung low on the horizon and the morning smelled like wet sand mixed with diesel, the aroma of the desert highway. There were three more cars in the lot, a late model Nissan, a black Chevrolet sedan and an eighteen wheeler that had seen better days. She watched them for a moment from the safety of her doorway, assuring herself all were empty and no one was lurking in the shadows. She didn’t wait long, her danger sense generally alerted her to anything that presented a threat, and it was silent, lurking in her mind like a toad at the bottom of a pond.