Splintering Reality (Breaking Order Series Book 2)

by Catherine Kopf

  ‘Ambert… what would my death do to him?’

  I had to believe in myself. Ambert would want me to protect myself and accept who I was. I had to believe I could do anything I put my mind to. Besides, I couldn't die here in this cave without finding Aurelia and taking down The Regime.

  “You’re wrong…” my lip quivered.

  Enya was flown back, as if from my words, and shoved against the wall. Her skin cracked. Deformities appeared on her china-like skin, and the cracks chipped away revealed a pitch-black substance within her. Enya’s brown hair turned a pale white.

  I tried to get up, but couldn't, collapsing to the ground with a thud. “I’m not afraid of making mistakes. What I may not have in height or muscles I have in my words. I have a voice no one can take away from me!”

  Enya shattered in front of me like a mirror and crumbled to the floor. Black ooze rose from the ashes and disappeared in front of me. The remaining ashes blew away in the wind. I defeated her. I didn't know how, but I did all the same.

  My friends surrounded my weak body. Blood dripped down the upper left side of my face and my nose, and my right hand felt like it’d been crushed under a train car. I couldn’t move it, yet I could feel so much pain. Mouths moved around me, but I only heard the ringing in my ears. Everything blurred. There were just shapes like one of Wes’ abstract works at first, blending in and out to reveal my friends.

  “Calista! We’re so glad you’re okay!” Enya’s voice muffled.

  I tried to get up, but my injuries were too great.

  “She doesn’t look so good.” Ivory covered her mouth with her hand. I bet it was the blood because Ivory avoided my gaze.

  Ju-long knelt down and examined me. “She might bleed out.”

  I attempted to smile, wanting to let them know I’d be fine, but instead, I coughed up some blood. Now I knew I wasn’t fine…

  Dustin lifted me, and blood poured out of the wound in my arm. “Por Dios… This is serious. We need to hurry."

  Sight completely abandoned me, leaving only splotches as I desperately clung to life. Light became sensitive to me as if my body wanted to merge with the shadows. People became blobs of color, indistinguishable with each other. All I could point out were Dustin and Enya: the boy who carried me and the girl who lit his way.

  Death pulled me down, but I refused to be his submissive slave. By the time Dustin let go of me, I was in a strange environment, surrounded by alien people who carried me away on a stretcher. They talked around me, shining a bright light in my face.

  I can’t die here… I barely held onto life.

  “AB positive,” a man said.

  “She needs stitches and a blood transfusion at a minimum. Order an x-ray stat. We need a doctor in here now.”

  Someone placed their hand on my shoulder. “Hold on. You're safe now.”

  I can’t die yet…

  I let out a sigh before closing my eyes and falling into a deep sleep, letting my consciousness fade to black.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ambert

  The room darkened, quiet seeping through every corner. In the center sat two chairs separated by a desk. All three items were metal, icy like The Regime itself. The chair I sat in squeaked, stray claw-like marks on the sides. I gulped, imagining previous signs of torture and ridicule.

  I remembered the scene well. This was the day The Commander gave me my promotion: the same day I rescued Enya.

  “You do know why you’re here, don’t you?” the chilling voice of The Commander came from the other chair.

  I tensed my shoulders. “My… my father said something about a promotion?”

  “Perceptive. It’s a rare opportunity, but you’ve earned yourself quite the reputation here. Your paperwork in The Information Department is exceptional, but I’ve found a new purpose for you.” The Commander placed a worn rectangular box on the table. “Open it.”

  With shaking hands, I lifted the top, revealing a semiautomatic rifle. Feeling the grooves with my fingers, I looked at The Commander with worry laced on my face.

  “With projects like Project Dark Phoenix in our departments, thanks to what you said in your strategy class, I’m beginning to see why radicals pose a threat: we’re getting outdated. Old. Bringing in those with… intuition, that’s The Regime’s best chance to evolve. Thinning the herd of older Regime supporters will bring stronger individuals to higher positions.”

  “What are you suggesting?” my lip quivered.

  “I know how much you hate your father. I’m wanting you to take him out and take his place. But first…” The Commander’s monotone voice remained just as emotionless as his gaze. “I need you to prove you’re up for the job.”

  Knowing killing Mr. Knight would make me Executioner— the sole person organizing the deaths of countless Dreamers— and that Cal wanted to join Wes, a Dreamer, it was a job I’d never want.

  A false move would see me executed or worse. Obeying his demands contradicted every personal value I held. With Cal’s life hanging in his fingertips and a gun in my hand, I could’ve taken out The Regime’s head there, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even if I did, guards would overwhelm me in an instant, possibly leaving a worse head to take The Commander’s position.

  Instead, I stared at the gun, lost in thought.

  “There’s a girl in the cell block. Same age as you, and a dangerous radical. Kill her and prove yourself.”

  “Ambert! Ambert wake up!” Kuan-yin shook me awake, shock in her eyes.

  I rolled over in my hospital bed. “... What is it?”

  “See? Safe and sound.” Wes led a familiar plus-sized girl in with Ivory.

  I could barely bring myself to look at Enya. Having that dream, remembering when The Commander asked me to kill her, traumatized me to even think about it.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay.” my twin sister grasped onto me, holding onto me like she never had before.

  My EKG beeped faster. “Where’s Cal?”

  “She…” Enya lowered her eyes. “She’s in surgery right now. I should’ve protected her better.”

  “No way!” Kuan-yin’s eyes widened.

  “It was so scary…” Ivory grasped onto a young man beside her with similar features to Kuan-yin.

  She swallowed a lump in her throat. “That’s my brother, Ju-long.”

  “And somewhere around here should be…” Ivory gazed around the room.

  “Can anyone explain to me why the heck she’s being wheeled off again?” a teen stockier than me placed his metal hand on the door frame.

  “Dustin, seriously?” Enya stopped her embrace. “Ambert’s already in the hospital. Don’t press him even further.”

  A nurse knocked onto the door, different than the one who treated me. “Excuse me? May I speak to the boy who brought Calista Knight to this building?”

  Dustin perked up. “That’d be me.”

  “Come outside and…”

  “Whatever you have to say concerns everyone,” I interrupted, making sure the nurse heard every word. “We’re her family.”

  The nurse cleared her throat and hesitated as she entered the room from the doorway. “Calista looked like she was stable, at least until they tried to stitch her arm.”

  “Know what’s wrong?” Enya was just as concerned as I was.

  The nurse nodded. “Her system contains thousands of small metal fragments. After examining a blood sample, we discovered each fragment contains a mixture capable of disrupting electrical impulses. It’s put her heart in arrhythmia, leaving her BTM erratic.”

  “That sounds like something the bad guys would do…” Ivory’s doll-like eyes widened.

  “It’s nanobots.” Wes sighed. “The Regime has millions of them.”

  “How do you know that?” I took a step backward.

  “That doesn’t matter. What does is that if we sit around like bums she’ll die from cardiac arrest.” Dustin spat.

/>   Kuan-yin crossed her arms. “Then The Regime is innovating… that’s against their own rules!”

  “There has to be something we can do…” Ivory filled with determination.

  “Our team is attempting to drain her system of the nano… fragments, hoping it will help stabilize her. For now, we have Calista placed on a machine to breathe for her. As an AB positive, she has many options for transfusion, but our resources are running thin. If we can get those resources, we should be able to do our operation and place her under a medical coma.”

  “What about a donor?” I asked.

  Wes faced me. “Dude, you’re injured!”

  “This is my fault.” I looked at the black dot on my arm. “You know what I was doing, Wes.”

  Enya chuckled to calm her nerves. “You’d never hurt…”

  “He was taking Antiserum. In secret.” Kuan-yin blurted.

  “Why the heck would you…?!” Enya sneered.

  “They threatened Cal, okay?” I moved my hand toward the window in my hospital room, cracking it with a piercing sound.

  Enya whipped her head around to see the damage and turned back to me, her lip quivering. “Was that you?”

  “I skipped a dose. After my magic showed up, I couldn’t stop it.”

  “How much blood do you need to give her?” Dustin glared from me to the nurse.

  The nurse checked her clipboard. “About two pints. She still needs a single pint from a donor.”

  “Then take mine. I’m O negative.”

  I promised I’d keep her safe. I was the only family she knew that she had left.

  “Not so fast…” An elderly woman, wisps of blonde in her aging hair and thin, entered the room. Her long silver cane thudded across the hospital floor.

  “Madam! I didn’t realize you were visiting today…” the nurse cast her eyes downward.

  The woman sneered at me. “First the cave, then the hospital, and now a girl’s life in danger. The elders here consider euthanizing you with that… darkness in your veins.”

  “My brother isn’t a rabid dog!” Enya clenched her jaw.

  I bit my lip. “Please, we grew up together. Please let me save Cal…”

  “Ms. Knight is in a critical state. An Oracle at that. I don’t want your blood contaminating hers.” the woman’s nose turned upward.

  “I’d do anything to keep her safe!”

  There was a pause. Enya rubbed my shoulder to let me know she supported my decision. Wes looked out the window, knowing he’d do the same for Aurelia.

  This woman chuckled. “Anything is a strong word.”

  “She’s dying! What else is he supposed to say?” Enya spat.

  “Strike a bargain. He will control that energy. He learns to control all of it as the hospital recommends.” the woman gave Enya a dirty glare. “Or we execute him.”

  “He can do that.” Kuan-yin lit up before turning to me. “You can do that, right?”

  I nodded. “…I can try.”

  The woman nodded to the nurse. “Get him prepped to donate then.”

  “Yes, Ms. Voidracker,” the nurse said.

  Dustin spoke up, “You didn’t have to do that. Anyone could’ve donated. AB positive makes her compatible with everyone.”

  “Yeah, even Ju-long is O negative, so you didn’t have to act like it was something you had to do,” Kuan-yin blurted.

  “I don’t have a choice. For me, Cal always comes first.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Ambert

  “Come on, Ambert! Serre will never let you leave if you can’t grip this.” Kuan-yin drew her katana from its holster and pointed it my direction.

  It had been a week since Enya, Cal, Ivory, and the others arrived in Serre. After being released from the hospital, I was elected to take lessons with a local musician — a violinist. However, I spent most of my time with Kuan-yin.

  I avoided her attack and lowered my gaze.

  She shook her head. “Not like that. The Commander’s after you. If you won’t let me help you tame your abilities, including that dark energy force, you’re going to lose yourself. Your sisters too.”

  I sighed. She knew what she was talking about. The thought of losing them — losing Enya and Cal — was unbearable. The mirrors of the training hall shattered.

  “Ahh—!” Kuan-yin dropped her katana. “Too much!”

  I placed my hands into my pockets. “Darker energy or—”

  “Some— But not all.” Kuan-yin shivered.

  These lessons were all about control and concentration. The soft white articles of clothing were a bonus. I played a few measures on the violin, careful to breathe in and out slowly.

  “Well, keep going! Don’t stop there!” Kuan-yin laughed, reminding me of Cal’s even if they looked nothing alike.

  “Can I take a break now?” I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

  “If you can do one thing for me.” her mischievous grin beamed. “Destroy that building. Knock it off the foundation.”

  “But, the elders—” I started.

  “I may be fourteen, but it’s my responsibility to make sure you’ve got this under control. No one’s stepped inside that place for five days. You’re clear.”

  I nodded, even if I swore to never use my powers that way again. But she said no one was in the building. “Alright—”

  “You’ve done so many lessons to teach you how to play that violin. You can’t put emotion into anything before doing that—” she pointed to the building. “Just use whatever instrument you’re playing as a medium. It lessens the damage.”

  She was right. Whenever I played something, it did stop the vibrations of sound. I concentrated and played a few loud chords on the violin. Nothing. Did it need more intense emotions— maybe? I was still fairly new to this.

  Feeling for emotion to concentrate on, I played several quickened notes on the violin, up and down, forward and backward— the energy had to travel through me somehow. I raised the dynamics, lowered them again, and raised them even higher. It was just like feelings. One moment you feel one emotion, the next barely anything at all. Then, like a symphony, it comes in stronger, faster, more determined.

  That’s why Mother called me Firebird— I rose and fell with the ashes and played music in the place of bullets. What happened in Serre was inhumane; it was unfair.

  The building toppled with the sounds of breaking glass. I panted and sweat poured down my face.

  “That’s enough for today. Bet Enya will be thrilled to see you.” Kuan-yin bumped my shoulder.

  I nodded and left. Heading back to the inn, the lights of Serre flickered. The hollow echo of wind filled the streets. Huh. Odd. I kept going.

  “Greer, what are you up to?” a voice called.

  Dustin Moreno. Of course. As a past soldier and Enya’s ex-boyfriend, I should’ve been wary of him, but when he came in carrying Cal, I couldn’t help but feel grateful— not just for that, but for his father helping me out with my Antiserum. I took his hand. His metal arm gave him a cold grip.

  In his other hand was a book titled Fairytales and Daydreams.

  I reached for the book. “You read?”

  “You don’t, junior?” Dustin cocked his eyebrow.

  The guy was taller than me, much taller than me. Buffer than I was too. That didn’t give him the right to call me junior. “Greer” was the best response I got on a daily basis.

  “How’s Cal?”

  “Healing. She took quite a beating.”

  “Right— it just concerns me that she isn’t waking up as quickly as expected.”

  “Crap, that girl? She’ll wake up. Especially with the others watching her.”

  I kept walking. “I’ve got to rest. See you around sometime.”

  )

  My inn room was white— just like the rest of Serre— from the mattress and furniture to the walls, fireplace trims, and even the bathroom toiletries. Immediately, I starte
d a fire and let flickers of orange dance in the white. I opened my mother’s journal, eager to soak in more of what she had to reveal.

  Dear Firebird,

  As you get to the end of this journal, I know you must be curious about The Regime. Its forming was slow over time, and a few Oracles foresaw it, but not all.

  Many Dreamers even had policies most members of The Regime support. Child regulation and magic laws were especially potent. The Regime’s roots stemmed from The Dreamer Peace Committee. They were drawn into the darkness and became rogue after some of their members’ creative talents grew sour. Mine were even affected some. We began tests… and those tests were wrong.

  The double-sided nature of dreams gave our committee a job to do. We were happy to do it too, but slowly… some grew out of hand: more reckless, more bloody. Whispers grew of overthrowing the king and his wife. I couldn’t imagine killing poor Violet and her husband, especially not for Bernard.

  You and your sister were almost born as slaves to the darkness… to the monsters, The Regime, and they intended to carry out the law at any cost.

  I knew about the law as a member of The Dreamer Peace Committee, but I never thought to bring it against my own children. You both are so precious to me.

  I promise I’ll explain everything. Just don’t forget where you come from. Be there for your sister. Love her.

  Love,

  Mom

  “Still reading the journal? Cute—” a voice echoed behind me.

  I turned to face the doorway. There posed in the gateway between light and darkness was The Illusionist. His mask glistened a pale color even in the dark and the smile carved into it taunted me. Cards shuffled in his hands, moving back and forth like an accordion. An eerie smoke filed behind him like a Regime smoke bomb.

  I coughed. “Are you Testoid One?”

  If anyone had the potential to be The Commander’s heir, it had to be him.

  “That lacks importance now. I didn’t want to come here in the first place. Just surrender to The Regime before you can’t escape.” The Illusionist’s hollow voice was as creepy as ever.