“Curiosity, move along, your nose is about to pierce Times Square any moment now,” Pain muttered. “I wonder if there’s any bigger poking device in the world,” she added, slitting her eyes at him maliciously.
Dave blinked, realizing that Marco was already inside the tunnel, looking at him with expectation. He stepped forward, letting Ryan through the doorway so he could join Marco in the lead.
“Actually- ” Dave started, but Pain pushed him further into the tunnel, closing the heavy door behind them.
“Shut up and walk after Marco and Ryan,” she said flatly, pushing Chad to his side.
All of the Ghosts had flashlights in their hands, and they filled the tunnel space with their yellow light. Now it seemed narrower somehow, with its walls not being lost in the darkness anymore. Dave hurried after Marco, eager to get out of this place as soon as possible. Their guards were striding through it confidently, as if they knew all those turns and corners pretty well. Only a few times Marco asked Pain where to turn; she answered him with short instructions. No one seemed to be inclined to chat, and Dave had so many questions already, but he decided not to break the silence. He was sure Pain would just shut him up again.
He stopped counting turns after ten minutes, assuming it pointless. Aisle after aisle, they passed a countless number of identical mazelike corridors until they reached a dead end with a round manhole in the ceiling. Marco and Ryan stepped back, giving way to the girls.
“Good luck, sisters,” Marco said simply, following Pain with his eyes as she rose in the air and pushed at the cover.
“Thanks,” she dropped without looking down and shoved the lid out of the way. Then she darted back down, snatched Dave’s collar with her hand, and lifted him through the manhole.
Ryan watched her go and then glanced down at Jane.
“Be careful,” he said, his eyes serious. She saluted to him with a crooked smile and followed her sister, carrying Chad with her.
They ended up in a narrow, bad smelling alley between two buildings. There were no streetlights around, and the sisters turned off their flashlights quickly so they wouldn’t bring attention. A dim light was visible where the buildings ended, so they headed for it through almost utter darkness. When they came out, they saw a narrow, deserted street, lined with two rows of abandoned-looking low buildings.
“Walk behind me, no talking, no tripping, no falling, no drawing any attention,” Pain instructed strictly, leading them along the street according to the route. She turned to take a look at Dave and Chad. “Why do you think you’ve got those hoods?”
The guys shot her irritated looks, but raised their hoods, hiding their faces. Although Dave couldn’t keep silent, apparently.
“Why don’t you wear a hood?” he complained in a harsh whisper.
“It blocks my peripheral vision. I guess you don’t wanna catch a knife in your side?” She turned to him, raising her eyebrows. “Thought so. Anyway, just keep your mouths shut whatever happens.”
“But…” Dave started and broke off because Chad shoved him with his shoulder as they turned to an even narrower and dirtier street. This one was lined by ramshackle row houses.
Citizens were sleeping in their homes, and the only sound filling their ears was the systematic grinding of litter under their boots. They were going through the outskirts, making a detour around the thoroughly watched area of the city. The sisters hadn’t noticed any signs of tracking from the roofs, but it didn’t guarantee that Beasts hadn’t spotted them yet.
Nobody knew for sure how much time had passed, an hour or two, but the guys got pretty tired by the time they finally headed to the brightly lit area. They walked for ten more minutes until they reached the water and stopped at a building’s corner.
“See that skyscraper with the red light on top?” Pain said in a low voice, pointing at a dark silhouette of a building in the distance. “Our apartment is on the last floor, and we’re going to take off and cross the water on the maximum height. Be careful, Beasts are lurking everywhere around here, and each one of them has our group photo, printed at Eugene’s office and put into a nice frame.” She took Dave by the sleeve and pulled him sharply to the side so she could see Jane’s face. “Fly as high as you can so you don’t meet anyone in the air. We’re stopping near the roof, then we’re going to look for our window. Peter promised it would be open tonight,” Pain finished and switched her look to Dave after she got an agreeing nod from her sister.
“You… ” They were standing close to each other, so she had to crane her head back to look him in the eyes, but somehow she still managed to make him feel about two inches tall with that look. “In the air, you don’t get hysterical like before.” She arched her eyebrows with meaning. “You don’t scream, don’t thrash, don’t wave your arms and feet, some other parts of your body. Altogether, you don’t give yourself away in any way. Even if you’re dropped occasionally,” she finished with an indifferent shrug and reached up to grab Dave by the back of his shirt with her right hand.
“Hey, I got hands, you know? Or do you have to drag me around like a dog?” he protested and got a dubious look from her.
“At least you won’t slip out of my hands when you have a tantrum again,” she retorted.
“I won’t! I’ll be alright, okay? I just need something to hold on to,” he defended himself and stepped closer to her, his look skimming up and down her clothes for something suitable. Finally, he hemmed in a satisfied way, sliding his hand under her hoodie and belt with a smug face, and looked back up at her. “See?”
The look she gave him was pure steel.
“I’m about to strangle you any moment now,” she muttered through her teeth. “And we haven’t even got to the apartment… Fine, whatever.” She grabbed his arm, squeezing it so hard he yelped in surprise. “Let’s go!”
And then she shot upward, merging with the black sky in a blink of an eye. Dave didn’t make a sound this time, and Jane followed them with a bemused look before offering her gloved hand to Chad once again. He gripped it tightly, seizing her belt with the other one, and then they took off after Pain.
Whatever she had just said to them, Chad had trouble suppressing his desire to scream ecstatically. It was like nothing else, soaring above the city in the warm wind, enveloped by darkness and moonlight. Though at first he was gripped by a paralyzing fear, the next minute he made himself dismiss it, relying on the thin and delicate arm of the girl that carried him higher and higher. Jane looked like she knew what she was doing. After all, the first time the sisters carried them all the way through Brooklyn to bring them to the Headquarters. No matter how weird it felt, it seemed to be a routine for them. So he just relaxed, having trouble now choosing between the infinite sky, full of bright stars, and the city that shimmered red and yellow and blue below them. Down there, in that ordinary and monotonous world, pedestrians were hurrying; cars sliced the streets with their yellow headlights, neon signs made buildings look like enormous Christmas trees… There was no certainty that he would ever have a chance to do this again, so he cut off all thoughts and raised his face to the night sky, once again marveling at the infinity of it.
Dave, on the contrary, was scared beyond death, just like the first time. And it wasn’t really the height that scared him. It was mostly his distrust toward Pain. All those days he avoided her, relaxing only when the others were around. Maybe that was the reason why he felt better every time Marco joined them for meal times or something else. When he showed up, Dave knew he would take upon himself all puns from Pain so he could make fun of it. Staying alone with her, Dave always waited for her to find another stupidity in his actions or words. Or chop his head off with her katana all of a sudden because he dropped or broke something.
To his relief, the flight only lasted a few minutes. They met near the building’s roof, all four of them surrounded by the warm, seething air, troubled by the sisters’ powers.
Pain led them to the windows. In her soul, she hoped the people behin
d them were asleep or absent. Nothing was visible through the mirrored glass, especially, at night. She counted the frames and then pushed the fifth one. It moved inward, and the window swung open. She exhaled with relief and jerked her head toward it, showing Jane that she should get in first. A moment later Chad was standing on the windowsill. As he jumped to the floor and reached his hand out for Jane, Pain smiled wryly and turned away; she was never able to hold back her amusement. With Dave lowered into the window, she slid inside and closed it in one quick motion.
They ended up in a wide living room with a long white couch in its center and intricate shelves along the walls. Moonlight penetrated through narrow gaps between the curtains to give just enough light so they could find their way inside the room. Across from the couch was a big flat-screen TV; from it and to the couch the ceiling was mirrored glass. There were two low armchairs, too, and a glass coffee table. The apartment was rich, even luxurious. Of the four of them, only Dave was used to this kind of places. The others were gazing around in amazement and disbelief.
“Wow, somehow this is so not what I expected from a corporate apartment,” Jane spoke in the darkness. “Do you think we could have mixed up floors or something? I think we should check the number on the door,” she said to her sister.
“And I think we should check breaking and entering charges, because I’m willing to be punished for this,” Pain responded, drawling the words with pleasure.
Jane smirked, but then her face froze in a frightened mask.
“What if someone just left their window open?” she whispered harshly, and for a moment Pain’s face mirrored hers. Pain waved her hand, dismissing the idea.
“I don’t think so. It’s the right side. Look out the peephole and you’ll see the elevator. Anyway, the building’s half-empty, rich kids don’t stay at one place for long, do they, Curiosity?” She smirked at Dave just as he strode off to the door, looking for the light switch, apparently.
“How do you guys see anything? It’s too dark in here!” he complained, and Pain dashed after him.
“Wait!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “Remember what Peter said? No lights at night, nobody should know we’re here. I think the drapes will cover the TV light, just don’t make it too loud.” She gave him a serious look before letting go of his arm and following her sister out of the living room and into the apartment.
Stepping through the door to their left, they got into the kitchen, furnished in the latest style and technologies. It was all black and silver, gleaming faintly in the gray light. They all crowded inside it – the kitchen was small compared to the living room – and looked around with interest. It was difficult to see anything in the darkness, so Pain fished out her flashlight, pressed the button, and ran it across the glass doors of the cabinets and the counter under them.
“Houston, we have cookies and Chinese,” she announced, shaking her head with satisfaction.
At that, the guys perked up like two hungry dogs seeing a bone before them.
“Gosh, I’m starving! I take the cabinets, you check the fridge,” Dave commanded, opening two of the small doors at once.
“Rodger that!” Chad smirked, coming up to the fridge. “Hey, the Chinese is still warm! Oh, I missed it so much! Though I don’t think it’s gonna be enough…”
Jane glanced at him sideways with a crooked smile. Pain sighed, turned off her flashlight, and headed to another door, trying not to stumble on anything in the darkness.
“Bo-o-o-y-s… A whole bunch of killers is after them, and all they think about is food…” she muttered to herself, opening the door. Behind it was a big bedroom with a king-size bed and two spread-out armchairs by the walls. It was dimly lit by the moonlight that was coming through the gaps between the heavy drapes. That light was enough to make out the interior: dark wallpapered walls with vertical stripes, a big, strangely twisted chandelier under the ceiling, a long mirror across from the bed. There were big chairs with high backs, too, and a vanity table with a stack of magazines on it. Pain glanced around with appreciation, feeling Jane come up to stand behind her.
“Wow! I wonder if Peter will be okay if we ruin the place? I’m so not gonna pay for it if we get attacked here.” Jane rushed into the bedroom, taking off her backpack with a weary sigh and dropping it onto the bed. “We’re taking the bed!” she announced. Pain shushed her with an irritated gesture, worried that some of the neighbors might hear them. Chad showed up from behind the fridge door, already chewing something, and Dave looked out from a cabinet. “Unless you guys want to sleep on it together,” Jane added in a dreamy voice, sticking her head out from behind the door and winking at them.
“It depends on together with whom!” Chad tried to respond with his mouth full.
Pain was at the kitchen threshold already, rummaging among the bags which Dave had dropped there.
“With each other, sweetheart,” she answered for Jane.
“In this case, I’d prefer to get killed. Several times,” Dave commented. He took out and put on the counter a couple of juice bottles. “Or a simpler option, sleep on the floor.”
Pain smirked, getting up with her bag in hand.
“Donut?” Chad offered cheerfully from behind the fridge door, holding a tray of donuts out for her. She grimaced.
“No, thanks. Leave some Chinese for breakfast,” she said sourly and went to the bedroom. Chad only shrugged, putting the tray back inside just as Jane came up to get a look at whatever he had found there.
“There’s a spread-out armchair, actually,” she said.
“One??” Chad stared at her with scared eyes.
“Two-o-o,” she drawled, reaching under his arm and taking out a banana.
He stepped back a little, opening the upper compartment and looking inside with animation. It was stuffed full of boxes.
“Hey, we even have frozen pizzas here! Somebody up for a pizza?” he asked eagerly.
“I am!” Dave responded right away.
“I better go shower,” Jane said and disappeared in the bedroom again.
“I’ll pass,” Pain said in a flat tone from inside the bedroom. “Boys, pigging out at two AM, never getting fat, would you all just burn in hell…” her muttering carried through the darkness.
Chad shrugged carelessly, took out a pizza, cleaned it from the packaging, and put it into the silvery microwave. Eating at two AM was a commonplace for him, considering that sometimes he got so distracted with work that he didn’t notice it was night already. And due to the same reason, he never gained weight, that much was true. Though he doubted that Pain was being serious. He couldn’t imagine a fat Ghost, with their lifestyle and constant training.
About a half-hour later all four gathered in the bedroom. Pain was already sleeping on her side of the bed, Jane was braiding her hair by the vanity table, and the guys were finishing their juice in their armchairs.
“You know what’s strange? Pain was right earlier, there are people trying to kill us, but why do I feel so excited right now?” Chad wondered.
“That’s ’cause you’re an optimist.” Jane smirked. “While I appreciate your faith in us, may I just remind you there is a huge possibility that we’re all gonna end up dead,” she said it matter-of-factly, her voice unconcerned.
“Do you think it will happen?” he asked after a moment.
She hesitated, looking at herself in the oval mirror for a moment.
“No, I don’t think so. I have a good feeling about it all. Actually, it’s kind of weird, considering the case.” She gave him a tiny crooked smile. “I just don’t want you to be shocked if anything goes wrong. Like, really, really wrong.”
Chad sighed at that.
“Okay, I get it. But right now, can I just be happy about some pizza and a nice place to live in? Please?” he asked with a smile.
She chuckled, shaking her head.
“Okay. No more death talk.” She made a gesture as if zipping her mouth and went to the bed.
“T
hanks.” Chad nodded with appreciation. “And you know what?”
“What?” she asked, already from under the covers.
“We’re not leaving until we’ve eaten all those fantastic pizzas.”
She giggled quietly.
“Okay, but that’s mostly on you two,” she replied and rolled onto her side. “Good night.”
Chapter 7
The day was dragging awfully slowly. The guys had spent most of the time on the couch watching cable TV. Jane joined them sometimes if the movie was good, but most of the day she spent reading the magazines from the bedroom. There were some really interesting travel ones, aside from Cosmo and others, which she considered useless. Pain seemed perfectly content alone, first with her book and then meditating for at least two hours. Dave was surprised to find her immersed into meditation in the bedroom and asked Jane about it, but she only explained shortly that it was very useful in developing their healing and shielding skills, and even the power of attack depended on how well they could feel and control their energy.
Eventually, when it got dark outside the windows, all of them gathered in the living room where Dave and Chad were watching “Family Guy”. Sprawled on the long couch, their postures weary, their faces dull, they stared at the screen almost without blinking until Chad broke the silence.
“When will this cartoon finally bore you?” he wondered lazily, shoving Dave with his elbow. “You must have been watching it since you were a virgin.”
Dave grimaced and shushed him. He was snickering cheerfully at every joke on the screen, and it seemed he was a fan of the series.
“What?” Chad wondered, uncomprehending. “Like nobody here knows that you were a virgin one day!” He waved his hand.
Sky Ghosts: All for One (Young Adult Urban Fantasy Adventure) (Sky Ghosts Series Book 1) Page 10