“We’re only trying to negotiate. Turn yourself in, Sweetheart.” Father pleaded with his eyes.
“I…" my eyes glanced at Enya, reminding me of the confidence I strived to have. “I can’t.”
“Guess we’re doing this my way.” Mai clapped her hands.
A girl in a dark cloak crept from her hiding spot in the shadows. A hood covered her face and she wore black gloves on her arms. The mysterious figure was a silhouette, skulking with the shadows around us.
Ju-long's eyes squinted. “Who’s that?”
“I’m not sure...” Wes glanced at the figure, eyes deep in thought.
“Aww… Wes, don’t pretend you don’t know,” Mai said.
Father gestured to the figure with a smile on his normally stern face. “She’s one of our newest— an assassin for The Regime’s cause. Using dreaming for The Regime’s regulated use is always a pleasure.”
“A Cravealing…” Wes whimpered.
“We can’t give up,” I said.
“Don’t be stupid. Surrender’s an option here,” Dustin argued.
Enya asked, “You chicken?”
Dustin sighed, trying to put his thoughts into words. “I’ve fought a ‘Cravealing’ before. My father knew several of them. They’re deadly and extremely hard to beat.”
“You never told me that before…” Enya slapped his shoulder.
“This one’s been training for two weeks but she’s dangerous. Proud of my work of course.” Mai’s smile twisted. “You’ll be in for the fight of your life if you continue to play this game. Where’s Ambert?”
“We really don’t know…” Ju-long pleaded.
Dustin held up his fists. “You’ll never find out if you shut us up.”
“I'll get the truth after a beating.” Mai clapped her hands. The Cravealing approached closer.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“Find a way out of this.” Enya’s eyes shifted to the door. “I’m not letting her use us as Ambert bait.”
“The Regime will kill all the people associated with dreams for their crimes.” Father fired a shot into the air.
Enya lit a fire in her hand, eager to end Father before too many people lost their lives.
Dustin’s prosthetic hand lowered her arm. “No use. One shot won’t take out all of them.”
“It can take out him,” Enya spat.
“We need to get out of here..." I looked around, desperate to escape the fight.
“You go nowhere…” The Cravealing held a whip in her hand. Smoke or heat came from her mouth, presenting a cold air around her.
Soldiers dragged squealing Dreamers out of the room. Father fired, the sound of his pistol crackling in the nighttime air. Mai scanned desperately for Ambert. The chaos of the room brought on screams of desperation, and blood coated the white walls and floors. The cloaked figure in front of us stood like a spirit of death. She lingered there, waiting, watching our every movement. She waited for the perfect moment to strike us down.
I shivered, and Enya placed her hand on my shoulder as if to swear to me we’d get out of this. Wes glanced my way with kind eyes, fully supporting me in whatever decision I made. As much as I wanted to run, as much as I wanted to hide, there was only one option left.
“We’ll have to beat you.” I gulped.
“That’s your choice? No matter, you know seeing Dreamers in pain will only bring me more pleasure, Calista.” The Cravealing lowered her hood.
We all gasped in horror. There, standing in front of us, was June. The same June Wes and I saw freezing in The Science Department. The same June whose loyalty to The Regime knew no limits. The same June who once answered she’d poison Dreamers to mimic the slow, painful nature of radical behavior.
But she wasn’t the same as when I saw her last. Her long black locks from her military school days were now an ice-white pixie cut. Frost covered a few areas of her dark-skinned face reminding me of Fortress’ chilly, frostbitten atmosphere. Her eyes contained a fierce neon blue rather than the toasty umber shade. She became an embodiment of Fortress’ cold.
“June?" my eyes bulged. “We… Wes and I saw you die!”
Wes lowered his gaze away from her and placed his hands in his pockets.
June took the whip, snapped it to release a patch of ice, and sent me losing my balance to the floor. “Aww… so you do remember me.”
Her icy magic was met by Enya’s flame, only for it to counteract.
Enya wiped sweat from her forehead. “What has Mai done to you?”
“Something great.” June’s eyes narrowed. “What your friend did was way worse.”
“We need to get out of here,” Dustin grumbled to Wes.
His reply was a mischievous smile.
“Come on, Ju-long, we can handle her.” Wes turned to me. “Run, and don’t look back.”
“But Wes…” I said.
He interrupted. “Dustin, take them outside and get Ambert. I’m not letting Mr. Knight and Mai get away with hurting these people.”
“Have you lost your flipping minds?!” Enya’s voice croaked.
“What’ll happen to you?” I asked.
“Just run.” His eyes watered, but he held back the tears so I couldn’t see them.
“We can’t just leave you!” I said.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. Meeting you... that wasn’t one of them.” Wes pulled me closer to him and brushed his hand against my face. “If I don’t make it out, find my sister for me. Okay?”
I nodded with tears laced in my eyes. “I can’t lose you…” We’d been through so much together already!
Ju-long approached June and rose the ice Enya melted off the floor with his powers.
“Guess that’s a solution if you want to tick me off.” June froze the water over.
“Hurry up.” Dustin gestured for us to follow him and exit the main room.
Enya and I ran, but two guards blocked our path.
I held Dustin and Enya back before I twisted my watch, causing high pitched vibrations to come out of it.
“Run!” I yelled once the door was free of any guards.
“Which way?” Enya asked.
I looked around. “The front door or maybe the windows…”
“If you want to get killed, that’s a great idea. It’s protocol to block windows and doors with heavy amounts of force," Dustin said.
“What way do you suggest?” I asked.
“This way.” Mom pointed to a vent. “Hurry before it’s too late.”
Dustin ripped off the ventilation cover and gestured for us to go inside.
We slipped into the ventilation system, quickly crawling on our hands and knees. Around us, hundreds screamed from the cafeteria. Would Wes and Ju-long meet up with us or would they join hundreds in the slaughter? Whatever Mai did to June, it wasn’t good. It wouldn’t have happened if Wes and I actually saved her. It was my fault… our fault… for believing The Illusionist’s trick. June seemed to know Wes well. How was that? He spent most of his time with me, and June was still in military school.
“We’re close to the exit.” Mom crawled through the vent, ahead of Enya and me.
“I hope Wes is all right...” I said.
“If he does get captured, they won’t kill him. Not until they have the other leaders. All of you would be executed as examples,” Dustin said.
“I’m glad I let him tag along,” Enya whispered.
I whispered back. “You were going to shoot him.”
“I heard you,” Dustin groaned.
Mom kicked a grate causing an escape hole in the ventilation system. The four of us crawled outside the vent as fast as our knees were able. In my long dress, it was harder to crawl, so Enya and Dustin pulled me out.
“Which way now?” I asked.
“To Ambert.” Enya looked out into the horizon, Regime helicopters at every turn.
Mom placed her hand on
my shoulder. “Which way did he go?”
“Filía. Especially with Kuan-yin and Ivory with him,” Dustin said.
“Let’s hurry before someone spots us,” I said.
We scurried across the newly built white bridge, music notes written like a composition on its side. As soon as we walked across it, a helicopter flew over our heads and shot at us.
“Duck!” Enya dived to the ground.
We hid in the bushes near the pathway to Filía. Dustin, Mom, Enya, and I pretended to be dead— covered in silence. The helicopter kept its light on us for a few seconds, but eventually passed us and fired a bomb onto the bridge. Pieces of it flew everywhere including near the bush we hid in. Everyone left in Serre was at the mercy of The Regime.
I placed my hand over my mouth. “… What have we done?”
“This is our fault,” Enya mumbled.
“We gotta keep going. You don’t want to get caught, do you?” Dustin asked.
“I agree with your friend.” Mom rubbed my shoulder. “We have to keep moving, Darling.”
We had to rescue Wes and Ju-long, and warn Ambert, Kuan-yin, and Ivory. A thought crossed my mind.
What if Mai does the same thing to Wes and Ju-long as June?
It was a terrifying thought to think about. I was a Dreamer. I was supposed to do things by just trying them. Maybe I had talents but I wasn’t a rebel like the others. It would explain why I was so helpless.
I earned this fate, not my friends. I should’ve discovered what that fiery vision meant before it happened, right? Ambert would say I had positive qualities that outweighed the bad. I was blindfolded. I was lost, scared. I wasn’t confident. That got all of us in trouble. Now, I had a promise to keep: a promise to find Aurelia and guide Dreamers. I couldn’t let down the artist I grew to care about so much.
As we walked along the brick path, I tried not to look at the destruction behind us. It all seemed like a bad dream. In reality, a chance of beating The Regime was just a wasted dream. Just hope wasn’t enough to stop them. It was a foundation, nothing more than a tool we could use, but our hope wouldn’t bring down The Regime. Dreamers coming together to fight under hope would. Ambert was right.
I hugged onto Mom and cried. Letting go of her, my body went limp.
Enya placed her arm around my shoulder. “Wallflower, it’s not your fault...”
“Ambert could’ve taken on June. I drove him away. I’ve let everyone down.” I released a shallow breath. “I’m not strong enough…”
“You’re one of the strongest people I’ve met. It’s just not in your guns or your head.” Enya banged on her chest. “It’s here. That’s stronger than any heartless assassin.”
Mom kissed my cheek. “She’s right you know.”
Dustin smiled back at said, “Someone’s learning how to be positive.”
Enya perked up. “Guess you’re right..."
I needed to fix my mistakes before they caught up with me. I didn’t know what to do or who I’d be next, but I knew whatever I did, it was going to fight for the dream of keeping my promises.
THIRTY-FIVE
Calista
That night, my dream returned me to Serre’s hospital. Ju-long and Wes were bound at their hands and feet, prisoners of The Regime. A slash was prominent on Ju-long’s face, evidence of an ice shard cut from June, and his honey eyes looked to his captors like a lost child. Sweat ran down Wes’ neck but he managed to keep his composure… barely.
Mai stepped on Father's toe. “You let Enya, Calista, and the other boy escape?”
Father clenched his teeth to mask the pain. “Calista’s my daughter. I can't just hurt her.”
Mai slapped June’s face. She didn't fight back. Instead, June kept a straight face and stared coldly into the distance, frost covering her clenched fists.
“I’ve devoted myself to you and The Regime. It won’t happen again.” June bowed to Mai.
A mischievous grin etched across Wes’ face. “You’ll never find them.”
“I'll make sure Calista’s mind is cured of your poison. You rebels already do too much damage to this country.” Father popped his knuckles.
Wes raised an eyebrow. “Trying to scare me?”
Father clenched his fist. “I lost the love of my life once. I won’t let my daughter die the same way.”
“We’re so sorry about your wife, Sir, but please don’t take it out on us…” Ju-long cried.
“They would’ve told you where to meet them,” Father snarled.
“The Commander demands your submission. Where’s Ambert?” Mai asked.
Wes gave a half shrug and blew a piece of blond hair out of his face. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Wow…” Mai giggled and sharpened some knives. “The Regime’s really taught you well. No wonder you’ve kept them alive so long. Now talk!”
“A-Ambert fled,” Ju-long whimpered.
“Is this correct?” Father asked.
“Maybe he’s chilling in a lounge somewhere…” Wes lied.
Mai clenched her teeth and struck Ju-long across his face. “This game isn’t fun anymore. Maybe torture will get us some answers we want? At least get a batch of truth serum in case they don’t spill.”
“Of course.” Father left the room.
Ju-long’s trembled and avoided Mai’s eyes, fear coursing through his terror-filled veins. Wes sat in silence, biting his lip. Even though he tried concealing it, he obviously felt that same fear.
Mai turned to a group of people beside her, each wearing a red and black uniform complete with a bird on their armbands. The figures stood there facing their leader before finally speaking up to find out their orders.
“What now, Lieutenant?” the blonde girl, Becky, placed her hands on her hips to show off her figure.
“Do we torture them? I would gladly lend a blade or two.” Zeke’s light golden eyes shined with enthusiasm. Disgusting. Where was the person who saved Ambert’s life? All the light I’d seen before now vanished in his golden eyes.
“Shut up, you two. Orders are missions needed to be carried out. This one’s mine…” June’s hollow voice echoed.
“You’re taking things too seriously. Come on, it’s hard to think in all this chatter…” The Illusionist’s mask looked as haunting as ever.
Mai giggled. “It’s nice having so many new friends.”
They paused for a second, leaving room for Mai to make orders.
“Go destroy The Dreamers’ Safe Haven in Fortress. Kill anyone hiding there. They’ll be happy to see you.” Mai smiled.
Wes’ eyes widened. “You can’t do that…”
“Sorry, pretty boy.” Becky spat in his face. “You’ll never clean up the dirt Dreamers have… especially after what you did to us.”
“Mai, I know we’re meant to protect The Regime at all costs, but, in the past, I don’t think…” June brushed a piece of hair off her face.
Mai interrupted. “The Regime’s your family. Anything in the past is dead now.”
“I can’t help but question why we need them alive in the first place…” Zeke mumbled.
“Then don’t. Make your family proud. All of you! I’ll inform you when I get a location.”
The Illusionist, Zeke, and June nodded and left. Becky sauntered toward them, but Mai grabbed her arm. Becky’s curls whipped around her head as she turned to face her. What did Mai want now? If I could find out what was going on, it’d give us a major advantage.
Mai twirled one of her pigtails. “Give them their last dose.”
“Lieutenant, if I give them the seventh…” the blonde placed her delicate hand on her chest.
“Their old selves will completely disappear. They’ll be like you, The Illusionist, and me fully. Completely evolved. Yep, I definitely want that.”
“Aren’t you worried about…” Becky whispered the next word, “Zeke?”
“Do I look like I can’t handle him? I
have a plan for him if things go sour.”
“... Of… of course. This should be riveting to capture.”
The pigtailed monster chuckled and popped her knuckles. Her crooked grin extended across her face— like it was a deep promise she was to do her worst.
“See how you’re affecting everything?” a familiar voice asked.
“You…” I turned to The Boy With the Violin. “Who are you really?”
I reached out to touch the violin in his hands.
He turned away. “The real question is: why haven’t you found Aurelia yet?”
“I don’t know where Base Darkguard is, let alone what my own visions mean. I need help… and I think you’re the only one who can give it to me.”
The Boy With the Violin paused for a second, releasing a heavy breath of air from his lips. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood frozen for a few seconds before even daring to speak to me again.
“The Commander will stop at nothing until he catches you, especially with Ambert Greer on your side.” The Boy With the Violin glanced at me, revealing two blue eyes. “Dream and flames… that’s what connects the two lives. You don’t even realize who they are, and both are more similar than you think. If you don’t choose the right one, thousands of lives will be sacrificed…”
Images passed through my head: blood seeping through brick craps, a white rabbit with a cotton tail, distorted buildings surrounded by brick, and a black wall covered in neon glasses. Fragments of my vision cracked around me like before. I held onto The Boy With the Violin.
“Find her, Calista. Find and guide all of us,” his voice spoke through the images like a roaring fire.
I woke up, jolting my fingers over my chest. Sunbeams caressed my skin, but darkness still lurked in the shadows. The stars and the sun were out at the same time in an impasse, just like our own conflict.
Dustin and Enya ate rations of food from their backpacks, gobbling it down like hungry wolves.
“Thanks for what you did back there…” Enya sighed.
“You wanted me to leave your sorry butts with Mai and Mr. Knight?” Dustin bit into an apple.
Enya’s eyes narrowed. “I said thanks.”
Dustin leaned in. “I didn’t say you didn’t. You’re inspirational like a fire, Flames.”
Splintering Reality (Breaking Order Series Book 2) Page 23