Splintering Reality (Breaking Order Series Book 2)

by Catherine Kopf

  Enya lowered her head. “Mother I…”

  The woman spat on Enya’s face. “Disgrace.”

  “Is this enough proof to convict her?” the officer’s gun shook in his hand.

  “First in your looks and now this… radical, brainwashed ideology.” the woman sneered. “Send her to Fortress for execution.”

  “No…” Enya choked.

  Behind the woman were several children, each dressed in black with lowered gazes and stiff postures. Despite her foster family unit being eerily uniform, Enya remained defiant against The Regime’s cracks. She remained just as passionate as the Enya I befriended.

  A mysterious figure touched my shoulder. “You have such an important job to do…”

  The world cracked, images of the boy splitting into different sectors in my dream. Neither of us heard the other, only the sounds of breaking glass. Shards fell around me, shattering on the dark, empty floor below. Wind echoed around me, and the flames of my visions touched my arms and legs.

  “Do you know who the two lives are?” I asked the mysterious voice: The Boy With the Violin.

  Chief Starbright told me they would lead me to Aurelia, but how? If The Boy With the Violin knew anything, I’d be happy to hear. No: ecstatic to hear. Wes and the others were relying on me.

  “If I give more information away, you’ll be in great danger…”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Find her first. The rest will be clear.”

  “But…”

  The voices drowned my sentence out with the howling reply of a song, haunting my subconscious to its center.

  I gasped for air as I placed my hand on Chief Starbright’s table. “Enya… the people she loved betrayed her. That’s why she doesn’t listen.”

  Chief Starbright sipped another taste of her tea. “For you to have a vision on that girl, she must be important for your adventure.”

  “But… why?”

  “Probably because you’ll have to stand up to her. Enya’s an arrogant brat most of the time.”

  “Um… I don’t know how to comment on that.” I crossed my legs.

  “She takes up all of your adopted brother's time, leaving none for you. You don’t have to hide that you hate her. I’m not surprised people betrayed her in the first place.”

  I released a deep breath. Talking about the complicated relationship between Enya, Ambert, and I wasn’t something I was interested in discussing with the head of Safe Haven. I barely understood it myself. Having to share Ambert was something I didn’t want to do, and when I was younger, it was something I saw as unthinkable because of our connection.

  I changed the subject. “The last time I had this dream, I saw a boy with a violin. He might help me find Aurelia…”

  Chief Starbright chuckled. “Well then. What does he look like?”

  I paused in my tracks. His face was always clouded from my view. Did he have something to hide, and even so, it wasn’t like I could magically find out by blinking my eyes or something… right? That would be cool, but I doubted that ability would “guide Dreamers” as Chief Starbright said. My mind swirled with all kinds of new ideas and theories. Maybe Aurelia was trapped somewhere Enya would help us get to. Somewhere covered in ice like Fortress maybe? Or maybe it would be filled with fire! Would we have to fight to get to Aurelia? Or…

  “As I thought, you don’t remember.” Chief Starbright stopped my thoughts from trailing down a rabbit hole.

  “I’m sorry… um… was there anything else you wanted with me?” I asked.

  “Not now, Knight. Go enjoy spending time with that new clothes-making recruit” Chief Starbright said.

  I blinked. “You mean Ivory?”

  “Yes. Her talents will be helpful to disguise Enya and her twin brother.”

  “Ambert? Is he in trouble?”

  “It must be difficult to earn a nickname like The Sparrow of Silence. Finding that title took some digging. A Regime hero who turned down a high position and committed treason. It’s no wonder they want his head.”

  “If Ambert hadn’t done what he did during his final exam, many teens would’ve died.”

  A wry smile formed on Chief Starbright’s face. “Glad to see you making a stand for your brother, Knight. Now you can go,” she shooed me away.

  “I don’t understand…”

  “You have a lot to learn, but this is enough for now. You know your important place here.”

  I shrugged and dawdled out of the room. What did she mean by my place? How did those visions connect? Why was Starbright so interested in helping me? I didn’t have any answers, just more questions, for the brand that gleamed on my side. I sighed.

  I crashed into Mai, sending us both to the ground. The word barely left my throat. “Sorry!”

  Mai brushed grass off her black Lolita dress and bit her lip. She mumbled a few words before I caught what she was saying. “... stupid, no good…”

  “... I… I said I was sorry!” I croaked.

  “You will be…” Mai moaned.

  I backed away slowly. What was Mai’s deal? She sure seemed like she didn’t like me if she didn’t hate me. I didn’t need any of that from Dreamers. I was bullied enough in my first year of military school. I couldn’t take any more of it.

  Wind around me howled, twirling the dreamcatchers in Chief Starbright’s room. The smell of dew clouded my senses from the recent rain. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Ambert following Mai again. I was about to follow them when Enya met up with me.

  She let out a huff of air. “I don’t understand how he does it. He looks at The Regime and thinks we can stop fighting. He sees the good in everything and it worries me.”

  “Worries you?”

  “Kindness can’t win every battle. Someday, it’s going to bite him. Might even get him killed.”

  I looked towards the clearing where Ambert and Mai ran off to. I wanted to know what they did together. He already spent enough time with Enya as it was, and I didn’t need to talk to her still. I clenched my fist as I tried to walk past her.

  Enya glanced that way and smirked, not budging one bit. “Let me guess: you want to know why Mai gets Ambert time too.”

  I didn’t speak a word at first, but Enya’s fierce glare told me she knew what I was thinking. I avoided her gaze. She already caused enough trouble for everyone. Fighting her wouldn’t be a good option, especially since I’d lose to her any day with her magic.

  “Look, I know I spend a lot more time with Ambert since we take the night shift watching Safe Haven, but, don’t you dare think I’m not on your side, okay?” she placed her hand on my shoulder.

  “Okay…” I shrugged.

  “Come on. Let’s check in on him for once.”

  We caught up to Ambert and Mai and hid behind a stone wall close by to watch them.

  Mai’s backpack laid open with nothing inside it. She only brought the lacy black shoes with her and they contrasted with the pink tights under them. A ribbon tied around each of Mai’s ankles and stitching attached the ribbon to the shoe. The shoes themselves made her feet look flawless while they pointed upward.

  Her legs were straight as she lifted them up and down from her pirouettes, whipping her pigtails around her head like it was nothing. She could leap into the air and land crossing her feet like she was as light as a feather. Her dress popped up and down and lifted with her as if they were one. Mai moved her feet back and forth quickly entering different positions and lifts I wouldn't expect from a twelve-year-old girl. She was a work of art in motion.

  Ambert clapped for her. Sitting Indian style in the grass, he kept his gaze fixated on Mai’s movements. I couldn’t help doing that myself. Every lift, every twirl, and every movement had passion intertwined within it. My jaw dropped, but whose wouldn’t in my shoes? Dancing was just as new to me as any other form of dreaming!

  When her routine was finally finished, Ambert smiled. “That was w
onderful!”

  “Glad you think so!” Mai’s crooked smile faded, her face becoming grim. “Jia, my sister, would watch me all the time… before The Regime got her. She had so many friends just like you… I never really was like that.”

  “I’d hardly call myself popular. Most people here, including me, are just like you. Cal and I grew up in a household with Mr. Knight. She’s one of the best people I know,” Ambert said.

  Mai smiled. “Sounds like you and Calista are more attached than I thought.”

  “Even though we’re not biological siblings, Cal’s always been someone I can trust,” Ambert said.

  Mai chuckled. "Ever gotten mad with her?”

  “Once or twice,” Ambert said.

  Mai raised an eyebrow. “But you’re Ambert! You can’t get angry!”

  “I lock it away. Always.” Ambert sighed. “No one needs me to lose my head. It might cost all Dreamers their lives now that I have my mom’s notebook.”

  “Ooh… what’s in it? I won’t tell anyone!” Mai vowed.

  “Nice talking to you, Mai.” Ambert walked away.

  I’d never seen Ambert give a cold shoulder to someone like that. Whatever that notebook said had to be important. I just knew it. But what could be so important that Ambert wouldn’t tell me about it? I bet he told Enya about it. She was strong and confident. I was weaker than she was, even in my powers. I doubted Mai would take that news well.

  Her expression hardened before she used a mocking voice. “Nice talking to you Mai.” Mai kicked her backpack across the grass and crossed her arms. “I’ll find out eventually.”

  She groaned before stomping off with her hands balled into fists.

  “What was that about a notebook?” I asked.

  “Ambert got a notebook that belonged to our mother. I was more concerned with that little imp’s reaction after he left. What was that about?”

  “Honestly, I have no clue…” Frustration poured through my system, but I knew I couldn’t let it overwhelm me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be a good Oracle. I couldn’t do anything to fix the problem.

  I didn’t know what had gotten into Mai, but I had a terrible feeling in my chest. I had to try and see the best in her like Ambert did so many times. Even then, he used his training from Fortress Military Academy to watch his back. I didn’t finish like he did. Neither was I as good a student.

  Enya and I headed back to the valley, following Mai with caution.

  “So… any idea what we should do?” Enya placed her hands on her hips.

  I looked at Mai, wide-eyed. I didn’t even notice she was watching us, a smile on her face. That crooked, playful smile was up to no good. A chill ran up my spine as I stared into her dark eyes, which I had trouble reading before. The eyes that spoke to me saying: I have you now. I just didn’t know why.

  I gulped and turned back to Enya. “We’re on our own until we find proof.”

  SEVEN

  Ambert

  Rebellion rose from The Regime’s ashes — and here I was trying to stop it. Sitting in Safe Haven’s spare room, I opened my mother’s journal for the second time. Black ink popped off the snow colored sheets as I flipped the pages. I had to find a flaw in the system before more bloodshed sprouted from the conflict.

  Dear Firebird,

  Silence… that’s all they ask for, yet the word means so much more than The Regime claims. When they say Dreamers need to be silent, they aren’t talking about our voices or our beliefs. They want us eradicated. To them, we shouldn’t have existed in the first place. We’re dangerous.

  No one cares about anyone in The Regime… only power. Lust, greed, vengeance, justice, wrath… every vice mixed with twisted virtues. Stay steadfast, and never let go of those you love and lost. Dreams can be salvation, but if they consume your soul with their temptations, dreams will leave you in a state of ruin. I wish you and your sister luck in figuring out the truth.

  Love,

  Mom

  Between this and her statement on twisted views and light and darkness, Mother had to be batty. Deciphering her cryptic messages would be an interesting task — one left to me for some reason.

  “Knock, knock!” a familiar voice spoke my direction.

  “Zeke, come on in.” I let a smile blanket my face as Zeke bumped my shoulder.

  I looked up, expecting to see the familiar deep brown eyes that helped save my life, but was surprised to be met with golden irises instead. They were brown before, weren't they? His dark hair remained clean and slicked back from his tanned face, but his eyes were considerably lighter than before. I wondered if mine were playing tricks on me, but — with all that I'd seen since coming to Safe Haven — I was less shocked by something like changing eye color.

  “See you got a new book.” Zeke pointed at the journal.

  “It’s my mother’s. She wrote about a way to stop the war between The Regime and Dreamers. That’s the hope, at least.”

  Zeke peered at the pages in the journal. “Fascinating… Found anything worth noting yet?”

  “I won’t stop until I do.”

  “Let me take a look.” Zeke reached out his hand. “Come on, don’t be shy.”

  I released the journal into Zeke’s hands.

  After studying the prose for a few minutes, he cleared his throat. “What an interesting entry. It’s got so many interpretations.”

  “Any guesses? Insights?”

  “Deciphering a piece like this isn’t my expertise, but I know someone who might be able to help. I was just about to introduce her to you.” Zeke turned to the door. “It’s okay, boo, come on out.”

  A doll-like figure entered the room — tall, thin, but had an essence of grace to her. Blonde ringlets framed her delicate face, as well as her striking roseate eyes, fully lashed — which made her look even more like a porcelain doll. Her smile was champagne colored, like the drinks in the military command rooms. Unlike most new Dreamers to Safe Haven, her revealing dress donned a scarlet color.

  “I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend—” my voice sounded awkward, but I tried my best to conceal the emotions behind it. This girl wasn’t my type. In fact, she seemed the opposite.

  “Isn’t she a beauty though? It’s been two days of pure delight. I’ve never been so lucky in all my life…” Zeke drooled over this girl.

  The cheese was there. I was lucky to hold down my stomach.

  With poise, the girl stretched out her arm. “Becky.”

  I assumed that was her name. I took her hand and faked a smile. “Ambert.”

  “I’ve been told so much about you. May I?” Becky’s hand floated toward my journal in Zeke’s hands.

  “Of course, Milady.” Zeke beamed at her and handed it over.

  I piped in, voice stern. “Careful with that.”

  Becky’s long-nailed hand flipped through the pages. At one point, she licked her fingers because the pages were stuck. Eventually, she eyed me with an enthusiastic expression.

  “Find something?” I lifted an eyebrow.

  “Certainly have.” Becky pointed to a passage a few pages in. “Come closer, you.”

  She pointed to a section the last passage I’d read with words pertaining to The Regime. “See this here? She’s hinting at The Regime’s psychology and the double-sided nature of dreams.”

  “Double-sided?”

  “That sounds like an intriguing piece of info to leave behind.” Zeke rubbed his chin.

  Becky nodded with a grin on her lips. “There’s no doubt to her wanting to highlight this. Guessing it shows not all Dreamers are good.”

  “What makes you say that? I mean, everyone’s not black and white, but —” I asked.

  She looked me in the eyes. “She specifically mentions how desire can consume the soul. It’s poetic really. Everyone has some desire or hobby that they cling to.”

  For me, that was music. It was an obvious one. Music connected me with dreams in a way The
Antiserum could never reach. It connected me with Enya, who sang — it became a part of me. Maybe there was truth to what Becky theorized.

  “I figured Becky would know. She’s just as talented in her work as I am in the medical field,” Zeke bragged.

  “So, what do you enjoy?” I asked her.

  “Makeup and aesthetics. Beautiful kinds of projects if you ask me. My mother was a part of The Regime’s propaganda. I obviously kept her looks, didn’t I?” she batted her eyes at us.

  He smiled at her. “You’re prettier than any stars I see in the sky.”

  “Oh, you…” Becky placed her arms around Zeke’s waist.

  “Can you take that outside? Still trying to concentrate on the journal here.” I shifted my eyes back to my mother’s pages.

  “Of course, dear. We won’t mind at all.” Becky laughed and left the room.

  “Isn’t she a total knockout?” Zeke nudged my shoulder.

  “She’s definitely got — charm.” my voice gave away my disapproval of Becky’s seductive appearance. I never fell for anyone by their looks — especially like that.

  “See you later, Ambert.” Zeke waved and left me alone.

  I unzipped my backpack and injected another Antiserum. Sometimes I forgot why I took the stuff, but I couldn’t lapse on a dose if I wanted to keep everyone safe. Especially Cal.

  Maybe taking on the journal alone wasn’t a smart idea, but the others’ safety had to be put first. If the journal contained any information The Regime wouldn’t like, it had to remain a secret. Even though Zeke and Becky knew, it didn’t mean Cal or Enya had to as well. I’d do anything for them.

  I retreated to the music room. Instruments of all kinds crowded the area, but my favorite, the piano, sat in the center. Sitting at the bench, I laid mother’s journal beside me. I played a gentle trill of notes, a scale going up and down. Chords left my fingertips as I strung together a quick melody, putting patterns and vibrations together in harmony as a perfect mix of sound and complexity — my wheelhouse: creating songs. I trickled the ivory and black keys, softening the notes before bringing it back to a thrilling, climactic ending.