by C. M. Fenn
Before he can get up, the other Shade pounces on him but Sam’s legs meet it and kick it up and back. It soars back and over the head of another Shade, smashing into some cars parked on the street. It doesn’t get back up.
“Fall back now! Get to the bikes. Double up if we have to,” Sam orders.
All around Mel and me, Realmwalkers are trying to make it back to their bikes while fighting off the attacking Lesser Shades. It seems an eternity before everyone is back within range. The fear in my chest overwhelms me as a tight wall of ravenous, hate-filled beasts surround us. I have no idea how we are going to get out of this. If the Realmwalkers turn their backs to mount up, they’ll be vulnerable.
“I got this guys!” Ember shouts as she starts to swirl her arms around her and fire grows out from her palms. It stretches out like a rope and snakes itself around us, encircling us in a lasso of flames. Following some unseen command from Ember, the thread of fire grows until it is a huge, raging wall.
I feel the heat from the flames. A Shade tries to breach the wall of fire then screams in pain and quickly retreats. Everyone climbs onto their bikes, which, surprisingly, have not been damaged. I’m still wondering how we’ll escape. We’re still completely surrounded outside the wall of fire.
Just then, Mel’s bike gives a small jerk, as if it’s shifting gears. She revs it up and instead of jumping forward, the bike begins to rise. The engine feels different, not as rumbly. The sound is a lot higher in pitch and smoother than the before. I grab onto Mel and hold tight. Everyone else around us starts to rise slowly. When we are all about three feet in the air, Sam raises a hand.
“On my go.” He says as he counts down with his fingers. When he gets to one, he points up. Together as one, the Big-Bikes push forward at an alarming rate. We arc upward and climb up the inner wall of fire until we shoot out the opening at the top. We continue to gain altitude at an insane vertical angle.
Right as I feel like we’re out of danger, I hear a loud shriek to my right and turn in time to see a wicked-looking Lesser Shade flying like a rocket right for Mel and me. The pterodactyl-like Shade crashes into the back of Mel’s bike as it flies past in a blur.
My hold on Mel slips as we spin out of control. I slide down the back of the bike. I think I’m going to fall off completely, but I’m able to grab hold of the rear-wheel fender. I’m dangling out in the open air from the back of the bike.
“We’ve been hit! We need help!” Mel shouts through the com system as she struggles to regain control of her bike. Everything around me is a blur. I’m only hanging for seconds when I’m grabbed around the middle and ripped from the back of the bike.
I can see the ground above me as I’m dangling upside down. I look to see what has me and am horrified—I’m in the grip of huge, black, oily-looking claws of the flying Shade that crashed into us. Everywhere the talons touch me, my skin burns ice cold.
The flying beast is getting closer to the ground. As it prepares to land, it slings me into a concrete wall. Every bone in my body rattles as I hit the wall and slide down. The visor of my helmet cracks when I hit the ground, and I can’t see out of it anymore. I want to lie there, rolling in pain, but I don’t have time. The flying thing could be on me any second. I rip my helmet off so I can see.
Sure enough, the creature is slowly approaching, walking on wings and claws toward me. It climbs over a car and crouches down to shriek at me. The sound is deafening and blows my hair back out of my face with the sheer force of it.
I get to my feet and back up against the concrete wall. It’s the side of a business. To my left is a faded green door labeled “Employees Only.” A small awning above the door throws it into thick shadows.
I dive for the handle, pulling at it desperately, but it doesn’t budge. I turn to face the oncoming beast. It’s nearly reached me. I scan around me for any Realmwalkers, but I can’t see anyone. Do they even know I’m missing?
As the Shade reaches the sidewalk in front of me, it jerks its head to the right. Whatever has caught its attention is beyond my sight, hidden by the next business over. Behind the Shade, I see other Shades running in the opposite direction, apparently away from something. The flying Shade that brought me down is suddenly lifted off the ground and thrown backwards in the air. It tumbles awkwardly, unable to get its wings out before it crashes down into a streetlight on the other side of the road.
My hopes soar as I wait for the Realmwalkers to ride into view from the direction the Shades were running from. My hopes are dashed when I see what it is that has frightened the Shades. Stepping into view, nearly fifteen feet away from me, is a Greater Shade.
Through the swirling shadows around it, I’m able to see that the demon is easily ten feet tall and is darker than all the other shades I’ve seen. Its deformed arms and legs drip a clumpy black sludge. I retch involuntarily when I see that its flesh is bubbling and churning, as though hundreds of creepy, crawly things are just under its skin trying to get out. It looks around until its eyes find me.
It immediately turns in my direction and steps closer. I look around me, trying to decide on the best direction to run. It reads my intentions and suddenly holds up a crooked, mangled arm. It points at me and I’m unable to move, held in place by some power. I look at the Greater Shade, at where its face should be under the shadows. Terror shoots through me like electricity. I’ve seen this shade before.
Everything in me knows with absolute certainty that the evil being in front of me is the very same demon from my dream. The demon masquerading as Tori. The one trying to keep me from going through the door that brought me to Chaos. As this realization dawns on me, I feel an unmistakable pulse of pleasure emanate from the Shade. I don’t know how, but it knows I recognize it.
I hear a revolting, wet, choking sound coming from the area of its mouth and I realize it’s laughing. I’m terrified as it inches closer. I try as hard as I can to move but I’m frozen where I stand. I can’t even release the scream that’s built up in my throat. It turns its outstretched hand sideways and curls its fingers into a claw. As it does this, I feel cold, invisible fingers wrap around my neck. I’m lifted off the ground by the force tightening around my throat. I can’t breathe! I’m still frozen, so I’m unable to even reach up or kick my legs.
While I fight for breath, all I can do is plead with my eyes for the Shade to release me. As I’m searching the shadows over its face, I feel a strange sensation in my mind. I feel vulnerable, as though my every thought is exposed.
I see you. You are weak. You are nothing! A searing pain shoots through my brain as the deep, demonic voice echoes around in my head. Everything in me screams! The edges of my vision are beginning to grow dark. I’m dizzy and lightheaded, on the verge of losing consciousness. I won’t survive my second night in Chaos. I’ll never get the chance to prove myself. The worst thing about dying now is that the last image I’ll ever see is this evil, hateful creature.
The Greater Shade is in my mind. He hears these desperate, dying thoughts and his response is loud, wet laughter. For the second time in two days, I accept that death is inevitable.
Chapter 11
As I’m dangling, seconds away from death, I hear the greatest sound I’ve ever heard. Big-Bikes. Through my failing vision, I’m able to make out first two, then a third Big-Bike land directly behind the Greater Shade.
“LET HER GO!” shouts Sam as he throws something shiny, disc-like, and wickedly sharp-looking at the Greater Shade. I fall to the ground as the Shade releases its grip on me and whips around. While I gasp for breath, the Shade deflects the spinning weapon with ease. It hunches defensively in front of me, making its intentions clear. I belong to it and it isn’t going to give me up without a fight.
I struggle to sit up, hoping maybe I can make a run for it, but I’m too weak. I watch as Sam, Lang-hao, and Timothy unleash everything they have at the Greater Shade. Lang’s arms are extended and his face is crumpled in concentration. Sam and Timothy are both firing their automatic
weapons at the demon but shockingly, to no avail. The Shade seems to be stopping all of the bullets before they can reach it. It is even somehow preventing Lang’s ability from having any effect.
I manage to stand up, using the wall for support. I scream out as the Shade uses its power to thrust Timothy back into a parked car. Get up. Get up Timothy, I plead silently. Before I can see if he’s okay, something happens.
Arms reach out of the shadows under the awning next to me. They wrap around my chest and fiercely pull me backwards and into the shadows with them. The moment we’re completely under the awning, I see nothing but darkness, but I sense I’m falling, spinning and flipping end over end, all the while being held tightly by strong arms.
As suddenly as it began, it ends. The person holding me steps out into a light-filled street. The street looks much like the one we just left, only with different buildings and cars. Directly in front of me is a silver Big-Bike.
What just happened? How did we get here? The arms release me and I spin around to see Mikhail. I look around frantically for other Realmwalkers but see none.
“Where is everyone? Where are we?” I ask frantically.
His only answer is to scoop me up and place me gently on his bike. As he gets on behind me, I hear an explosion in the distance.
“What was that? Do you think that’s them?” I’m asking him but he isn’t answering me. He revs up his bike and we’re speeding down an empty street. There are no Shades anywhere to be seen.
We’re coming up to an overpass above a freeway. Right when we crest the top, Mikhail’s bike gives a small jerk as he changes gears and we lift off the road. We continue to gain altitude and speed. I scan the city below for signs of my friends. It’s only when I’ve craned all the way around that I see a giant column of smoke rising from that part of the city and random flashes of light from either fire or explosions, I can’t tell.
“Mikhail! Look! There they are!” I try to point around him at where the fight must be going on. He doesn’t even turn to look. His eyes are focused straight ahead and he remains silent. All the while, we get farther away from the Realmwalkers.
I realize he has no intention of going back. He’s taking me to Major Calm without the others. I think of what they must be going through back there. I think of the Greater Shade and how powerful he is. I think of Ember and Sam. Is Mel all right? The last time I saw her was on the back of her Big-Bike spinning out of control. Did she steady it? Did she fall to her death? And Timothy. Did he get back up after being slammed into that car?
No! This isn’t right. That’s my new family back there. I belong with them. I can’t leave them to die!
“Mikhail, please. They need us! They need you! Please!” I beg, sobbing and pounding his chest. Still he remains silent.
I stop pleading. I know he won’t take me back there. He’s following orders. I watch the smoke cloud get smaller in the distance as we get farther away. Everything is silent but the air whipping past us and the sound of my crying. I say a silent prayer that my friends are alive and try to control my emotions. Tears won’t help anyone. I manage to calm my crying enough to turn and look Mikhail in the eyes. He’s still staring straight ahead.
I watch him for a moment. His jaw is clenched tight, and I feel through his chest and arms that he’s trembling.
“Will they make it?” I whisper up at him. It takes a moment, but he shifts his gaze downward to look me in the eyes.
“Let us hope,” he says in a quiet voice. I can hear his concern through a thick Russian accent. I nod my head and sigh as I face forward. Though my anxiety is strong, all I can do now is hope and wait.
Through silent tears, I look at the endless city below as we soar over the tops of the skyscrapers. I look ahead, trying to find any change in scenery but everything is the same. Buildings, streets, freeways, repeated endlessly as far as the eye can see. Then something interesting begins to happen.
In my chest, a familiar warmth begins to grow. Without ever having been there, I know we are approaching Major Calm. In fact, given the controls of Mikhail’s bike, I’m sure I could take us the rest of the way there. It’s almost as if I can hear it calling. However comforting the feeling may be, it’s not enough to dispel the fear I have for my friends.
As Mikhail begins a descent to street level, I scan the area for signs of any Shades. I don’t see any but I continue to search anyway. We land on an empty street and head in the direction of a building with a slanted top. The architecture is modern and a little out of place with its surroundings. I instantly know that the front of the building is the doorway to Major Calm.
I try to control the rushing flood of emotions that come when I think of how I’ll soon be safe while my friends could be dead. I have never felt so helpless, so useless in my entire life.
I don’t even flinch as we drive straight through the front display window of the artsy building and into a huge garage, easily twice as large as the one we left in Minor Calm. As Mikhail slows his bike to a stop, I notice a tall, curvy brunette marching toward us angrily.
Though everyone I’ve met in Chaos so far has been beautiful, this woman is easily one of the most gorgeous I’ve ever seen. She is thin and has long, flowing chocolate hair. Her big blue eyes would be breathtaking if they weren’t narrowed into angry slits. Behind her, I barely have time to notice a tall man in a white lab coat before the woman starts yelling.
“What’s happening out there! The coms have been cutting in and out. All we can hear are intermittent sounds of distress. Where is everyone?” this woman demands with an absolute air of authority. Mikhail says nothing but shuts down his bike and gets off. As he reaches to help me down, she says in a snarky tone, “I’m not at all surprised to see you here ahead of everyone. It’s just like you to sneak off and disappear whenever you’re needed!”
I’m completely taken back by this hateful woman’s accusations. Suddenly my grief and anxiety turn into rage as I shout at her.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about! Mikhail was brave. He saved my life!” I’m fuming now at this snotty stranger.
The woman looks at me and raises an eyebrow. She looks me up and down as she says, “Oh, and you know Mikhail much better than the rest of us, don’t you?”
Before she can say anything else, I march closer to her, livid at her insensitivity. “He only came back because he had to. He was following orders!” I shout defensively.
Her snippy reply is cut off by the sound of a Big-Bike revving to life. I snap my head around to see that while we have been arguing, Mikhail has gotten back on his bike and is now riding back out through the door to Chaos.
I run after him, intending to yell at him to be careful, but he’s gone before I can get the words out. I stop right in front of the garage door and fall to my knees. I can’t hold back the fresh wave of despair as another friend is added to the list of possible deaths.
I try hard to keep from crying as my mind’s eye imagines the worst. I can’t stop seeing the image of Ember lying lifeless in the street. I see Sam’s bloody and broken body crumpled at the foot of the triumphant Greater Shade.
I rock back and forth hugging myself. I feel a warm hand on my shoulder and I don’t even look up. It can only be the man in the lab coat as offering comfort doesn’t seem to be in the angry woman’s nature. I realize now in hindsight that perhaps I overreacted when I yelled at her. Even though my emotions were running high, I shouldn’t have let them get the best of me.
I decide to put the bratty woman out of my mind and focus on only positive thoughts. I picture the other Realmwalkers riding into the garage, smiling victoriously. Everyone is safe and sound and we all celebrate together, laughing as they tell how they defeated the Greater Shade.
The hand on my shoulder squeezes me gently, and I hear a man’s voice say with a British accent, “We best move aside. I can hear the Big-Bikes approaching.”
Excited and anxious I jump up and run to the side of the garage. I can hear the sound
s of the bikes now too. I start to bounce in place, unable to contain my anticipation. First to come through the door is Lang-hao, followed shortly by Kira, then Crank. They stop their Big-Bikes and get off in a hurry.
“Get Doc! Now!” Lang shouts at the tall man in the lab coat. He immediately turns and runs swiftly to a staircase that I assume leads up to the main levels of the Calm.
I examine the three recently returned Realmwalkers and notice only a few small injuries. Lang limps slightly as he hurries to a supply cabinet near the back left corner of the garage. Kira’s elbows are bloody and Crank’s forehead is dripping blood. The two of them are setting up what looks to be a portable hospital gurney. I run over to them.
“What can I do to help?” I ask, knowing they don’t have time to answer any of the other questions that are running through my mind.
Kira points to a large unit of cabinets along one of the walls. “Get some pillows from out of there,” she orders.
I run over and throw back the doors. As I’m bringing two pillows back, the remaining Realmwalkers return. I look up at the sound of the Big-Bikes and see Mikhail ride in with Timothy in front of him on his bike. Timothy is conscious but looks to be in a lot of pain. Behind them come two more bikes.
It’s Ember, who looks unharmed, and Sam who is cradling Mel in front of him on his bike. I can see Ember’s worried expression as she jumps off her bike and runs toward Sam. Together they get Mel off the bike and carefully carry her to the bed that Crank and Kira have readied. She’s unconscious. I pray she is only unconscious.
“Mel!” I turn as the man in the lab coat re-enters the room and runs to Mel as she is laid on the gurney. He gently brushes her hair back out of her face as tears fill his eyes.
Everyone gathers around the bed except Mikhail who is helping Timothy into a chair. I hug Ember fiercely.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I whisper in her ear. She hugs me tighter.
“Move aside,” says an older woman’s voice.