Shadow and Shine (Book 2): Dark Divide Read online

  The room was dark, but not as dark as having the sack over his head. There was a small line of light shining in from under a door. Shadows kept moving through the light. Tink couldn’t tell much, but he knew there were soldiers waiting outside. The complete darkness made Tink unaware of his body position, he couldn’t figure out if he was sitting down or standing up. Aside from the distant pain inside his mouth, he was numb. His cracked teeth rubbed against his lips as he tried to wiggle himself free.

  Tink was lying flat on a table, but the table was upright. He probably looked like Hannibal Lector tied up, without the mask covering his teeth. He pulled against the ties around his arms and legs, but they didn’t budge. This was a prison, of course he couldn’t break free. Effort wasn’t enough.

  Soft murmurs echoed in from the hallway and one voice sounded familiar. He couldn’t remember if it was the black soldier, or Nino. He didn’t get the chance to know either before being beaten down in North Salt Lake. Either way, Tink knew one was outside.

  The soldier wanted to be radioed as soon as Tink woke up. The guard wanted to be allowed to go in and check.

  “Don’t bother. When he’s up he’ll be crying for help. That homeboy got his teeth caved in, he’s going to wake to a world of pain,” the cockiness could only belong to Nino. Nino was the kind of guy who bossed everyone around and yelled when the real boss was not looking. He acted like a boss, but he was really just a barking dog on a leash.

  The other soldier was someone Uncle Grady would have called a Jerry. A Jerry was a suck ups. Nino might be a dog on a leash, but he was loud and cocky enough to convince Jerry he was in charge. “Sir, yes, sir. It’s an honor to have this opportunity. If you want backup—”

  “Stop talking. Radio me when he wakes up.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  If Nino was expecting Tink to beg, he was fitting to be waiting for a long time. No amount of pain could make Tink cry for help. His mouth was uncomfortable, his body was tied up, but other than that, there was no reason to start crying. If Mona were here, he would be just fine.

  But she wasn’t.

  Tink traced through his memories of when he last heard her voice. The three soldiers forced them outside the van, Jordan was going to cut Tink’s tongue out. Tink didn’t remember why though.

  Someone said something to tick Marshall off. He was going to take it out on Tink. Tink remembered the feeling of Jordan gripping his chin and trying to pry his mouth open.

  Tink remembered the gunshot.

  Tink remembered blacking out.

  He couldn’t tell if he woke up in the van, or if those were nothing more than dreams. Either way, he couldn’t remember his sister since they pulled over.

  Fear hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn’t believe she was shot, no one would have shot a little girl. Then again, those soldier’s weren’t the type of men who cared about right and wrong. They beat Tink to an inch of his life because he was disrespectful. What would they do to a little girl with an attitude and the ability to know stuff? Marshall already threatened her before.

  Tink remembered watching Marshall slap his baby sister across the face.

  Someone hit her, and then said he would kill her. Tink refused to believe she was shot, but Marshall proved he would do whatever he wanted. He didn’t know her. He didn’t care about her. He didn’t respect her. He didn’t fear her.

  He should fear Tink.

  Tink raised his head and slammed back against the table. It shook under his force. He wanted to scream out for his sister. He wanted the whole building to know he was awake. They could come in right now and face him. He wiggled his arm slightly and felt the thick rubber wraps on his wrists. Anger pulsed inside of him. Marshall, or Nino, or Jordan, one of those men was outside his cell bragging about beating him up, and they had no idea what they were doing. Tink wasn’t like his sister. Whatever patience she had, and goodness, she wasn’t in the room.

  He pulled against the straps. The rubber didn’t budge.

  Tink closed his eyes. Anger wouldn’t free him; it couldn’t. The two least angry people Tink knew were Asher and his baby sister. Their Pulse wasn’t fueled by revenge or anger. They weren’t just peaceful, but comfortable. Tink loved his little sister’s ability to stay poised while the whole world fell apart, and Asher was, basically, the same. It wasn’t about using the special ability, it was about feeling the special ability. They knew their gift and it gave them purpose. If he had the Pulse, if it ran in the family, then he needed to distance himself from the anger and find something else to take hold.

  He exhaled. There was a purpose. Tink was important; that’s what his sister said. Tink was important enough to be brought along to Salt Lake. He survived Reba. He survived the bombings. He survived the drive with Marshall. Asher didn’t. Neither did Shelly. Edie and Lynn died before he got there, because he was too busy with Reba. All those people were dead, and Tink was alive. He wasn’t going to waste his opportunity.

  A small orange light shined through the room showing two walls and a door. A keycard swiper-thing was to the right of the door.

  He felt the straps stretch as he looked down to his hands. They were glowing a fiery orange.

  The heat radiated off and melted through the rubber.

  The orange turned to yellow.

  Yellow, to white.

  White, to blue.

  He touched the other straps tying him down and melted them against his orange prison jumpsuit.

  A smile crept over his face. It wasn’t anger fueling his Pulse, it was purpose. The voices in the hall were gone, but the shadow under the door adjusted. The room stunk of burnt rubber.

  “Guard, please help,” Tink said. He made his voice sound fragile and afraid. He was going to bait the Jerry into coming in.

  *******

  Conrad

  2138 (Eastern time)

  Mill Creek Hollow, PA

  “You knew it was happening, didn’t you?” Seth said, he was accusing Conrad as if he committed a crime.

  “I did. Which is why I wanted to wait. I understand we have much to discuss, but there was much to happen first.”

  Seth was becoming more and more angry with Conrad, despite being under his care. The kid wasn’t nearly as cowardly as Conrad originally suspected, he seemed to be growing in comfort and trust as the hours went along. Conrad didn’t mind the emotion, but he wasn’t going to allow the disrespect to continue much longer. “With all due respect, sir, I deserve better than that.”

  “You do. And now the floor is yours. Say what you have to say,” Conrad found Seth to be the opposite of charming. At first, he thought it was just because Seth was so shaken up, but it appeared to be his nature. Seth was combative.

  He wasted no time in jumping into his story. “I know why all of this is happening,” he said, shaking his empty water bottle at Lydia, the bartender. “There is an enemy out there, one you’re not prepared for—”

  “Subas,” Conrad interrupted. “I’ve seen footage of their attacks, and they’ve survived the bombing of Salt Lake City, to say we’re not prepared for them is an understatement.”

  “We called them Wolves. But they’re not who I am referring to…” Seth’s voice trailed off.

  Conrad turned to him. “Go on.”

  “They are pawns. Strong, fast, and nearly indestructible. But pawns, nonetheless. The real enemy is their leader; Adam.”

  “What do you know about him?”

  “Sadly, not much. I know the Wolves, or Subas, are adverse to daylight. I believe it harms them. I also know they hunt in packs. I know they’re skin is calloused, their blood is black, and they are created by Adam.”

  “So we cut the head off the snake.”

  “I wish it were that easy. Adam is eternal. Before even considering it, we need to unite the country. You said America was falling apart, we need to sift through the wreckage and come together.”

  “Why?”

  “If Adam is eternal, the only way we can defeat him is
to find others who are eternal.”

  “Are you saying there are others like him?”

  “I was found and protected by heroes. They weren’t men like us; they were beyond our limitations. Mona, the leader, had brief visions of the future while the two brothers, Asher and Ben, were nearly the perfect killing machines. They fought off countless Wolves in protecting our group.”

  “And where are they?”

  “Mona made a mistake. And now they’re dead.”

  “Well—”

  “But there has to be more! I know it. Salt Lake is one city. Imagine what will come from the West Coast. There has to be dozens more, hundreds even. And if we can unite them, we can fight back against Adam.”

  “How do we unite them?”

  “First, we go to DC and get you sworn in. Second, we make an announcement requesting all survivors of the attack to come home. From there, we must find out who possesses the special abilities. Finally, we prepare for Adam. I believe the United Nations is a problem that can wait.”

  Conrad believed him. Seth was afraid of Adam and his Subas, and his idea was well thought out. Except for one part. “DC isn’t our first stop. If we’re going to do this, and do it right, I need to speak to President Watt.”

  ”Excuse me?”

  “Watt’s assassination was a fake. He’s going to be in West Virginia tomorrow morning. If we leave now, I can make it to DC to be sworn in tomorrow evening.”

  “Fake? Why?”

  “It’s a long story.” Conrad didn’t want to have to explain the convoluted plan out. It was already running through his head enough, and he didn’t feel like breaking it down to someone with no political or military experience.

  “Tell me the short part then.”

  “President Watt has a plan, this ensures the plan goes through.”

  “And you trust Watt?”

  “I do.”

  “Despite his effort to kill you and his success in killing Reyes?”

  “Yes.”

  “What if he tries to kill me?”

  “He won’t.”

  “Conrad, your trust isn’t enough for me. I need to know; hypothetically, what will you do if he tries to kill me? You said he wanted to bury the truth. I believe I will be public enemy number one.”

  Conrad didn’t believe it was possible, but President Watt’s erratic behavior was hard to read. A week ago, Conrad wouldn’t have thought he would go through with Omega, or Red Wave, or Black tide. “I will protect you.”

  Seth shook his head. He didn’t believe him. “Why can’t we use the Vice President?”

  “Eric Johnson isn’t fit to lead the nation. He is double-minded, self-centered, and has no understanding of what America needs. He’s a celebrity politician, that’s all. A figurehead. We only involve him if President Watt advises it.”

  “Do you not have your own opinions?”

  “I do, but I trust his more. Listen, you don’t have to like this, but it’s what’s happening. I trust his brain more than I trust my own. He has saved my life a number of times, I trust him completely.”

  “I thought you were some big shot military general. Why do you need his advice?”

  Conrad tried not to lose patience with Seth. He meant well, but his fear made him sound condescending. “For over twenty years, President Watt has been my superior. I have never been a part of an operation without his involvement. I make the orders to my team, but he has always made the orders to me. I refuse to stop trusting his orders now.”

  Seth sighed. “Fine. But if I’m going to agree to these terms, you have to agree to mine.”

  Conrad didn’t look at this as a negotiation. He was the one in charge. Seth was simply the one with important information. He continued to prove he was stronger than Conrad gave him credit for, but not enough to lay out demands. However, Conrad wanted to give him a chance. “What are your terms?”

  “Bryce Chapman is en route from Washington. He will be joining us.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “When the time is right; we need to control the public message. Do you have a better person in mind?”

  Christopher Martin was going to die. Sarah Francis was missing. Lana Marx was a joke. There are no other options. Conrad wished there was someone, but Chapman was the only person who could capture the attention of every American. “I don’t trust him.”

  “I do. And that’s going to have to be enough for you. Let’s be honest, sir, America is going to be hard-pressed to trust another American soldier turned politician after Watt, we need someone from the other side of the fence. He’s perfect.”

  “And if he gets in our way? If he does something that leads to me being in danger?”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  *******

  Jenna

  Night, maybe?

  Union Matis Field, WV

  The room was dark, but not as dark as Toppy’s basement. At least here, Jenna could see a skinny beam of light shining from under a door. There were no Shadows on the other side, Jenna listened and listened, but never heard anyone on the other side, either. It was hard to figure out exactly what position, or condition, her body was in, but she could see the door, so she must be upright. Her old bruises from Salt Lake City were healed, along with her broken ankle, but the goose-egg on the back of her head stung when she moved.

  Here he comes.

  Her pain stopped when a shadow covered the door’s light. A low rumbling voice murmured outside. Jenna spent the last week being tortured by men who were giants compared to her slender frame. Marshall, the soldier in charge, was the newest monster. Jenna knew what Toppy wanted, and as horrible as it was, it was better than having no idea why Marshall was locking them up. Everyone from Salt Lake City did nothing to deserve this. They were the good guys.

  Marshall’s broad shoulders barely fit through the door.

  It’s like a buff Toppy wearing a uniform and being too smart to manipulate.

  He smiled and turned on the light. A small breeze followed him in, tickling her toes.

  It’s like a charming Toppy without the stink and grime.

  “How are you?”

  This was the same man who stabbed Asher and shot Shelly. He stood in front of Jenna smiling like they were friends. He had the nerve to ask a question like he actually cared. Death and torture were nothing new to him, they didn’t affect him, he was comfortable speaking to an innocent girl in chains.

  Are you playing the innocent role again?

  She was innocent. She did plenty of things wrong in her life, but nothing to deserve this. It wasn’t about what she deserved though, it was about what she had and what she was going to do with it. Jenna wasn’t going to let Marshall push her around, but she wasn’t going to act like she was in control either. She was going to act like Shelly.

  Shelly would have smiled, so Jenna smiled back at Marshall and said, “I’m doing okay, thank you for asking.”

  He nodded and walked slowly behind her. His boots made a rubbing noise against the smooth concrete floor.

  Jenna looked down and saw she was fastened against an operating table. Someone had tied her down and took off her shoes.

  He’s going to cut you open, he’s no different from Toppy after all.

  He wouldn’t dare. Marshall wasn’t here to hurt her.

  “As I’m sure you know, I have questions that need answered and…” He stood over her, patting his chest. He was searching for something in one of his pockets. “Ah, here they are.”

  Are those wire cutters?

  Marshall smiled at her, he enjoyed seeing the confusion. “These are for if you don’t answer my questions.” He waved them in front of her face. “I’m going to snip the webby skin in between each of your toes.”

  How exactly will imposter-Shelly respond to that?

  “I’ll answer anything I can, I promise,” she said. There was fear, but there was also a faith in being able to be honest. She didn’t have any secrets. There was nothing confidential
. She searched through her head to figure out what he would want to know, and why it was worth torturing her.

  It’s all about Salt Lake City.

  “Good girl.” Marshall pushed her table back, causing it to lie horizontally. “How did you survive the attacks?”

  This was an easy answer, “Luck. A boyfriend. Mona.”

  “Mmmm. Tell me about Mona.”

  He’s waiting for the chance to torture you. He’s going to find something wrong with one of your answers. You better be careful what you say.

  “She’s amazing. She’s strong. She’s poised.”

  Marshall’s laughter stopped her. “The mute? She hasn’t said a peep since getting here. Are we thinking of the same person?”

  He’s got a point. She’s different now. She’s spent almost as much time being your leader as she has being an invalid.

  Mona was Mona, though. Jenna knew her in the most pure way. Whatever kept her quiet was important. Mona was always thinking about the future, and Jenna trusted her. She didn’t have to understand to follow her.

  Are you sure?

  “Mona has a plan. You’re a part of it, whether you realize it or not. She saved us when things were at their worst in Utah. She can do it again.”

  “How’d she save you?”

  “Anything I say is going to sound crazy.”

  He won’t appreciate crazy.

  “Try me, sweetheart.”

  “She has abilities.” Jenna answered, Marshall looked confused at the statement as she continued, “I watched her break a man, a monster, in half, using only her words. And she knows stuff too.”

  “What does she know?”

  This is where you draw the line and don’t say anything else.

  “Everything, I guess. I think she even knew you guys were coming.”

  “That’s very interesting.” Marshall looked towards the door. “So, she’s your leader?”

  Jenna nodded, “She is.”

  “Making you.” He brushed the hair from her face. “One of her soldiers, correct?”

  “I guess? I’m hardly a sol—”

  “Ah, well, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He set the wire cutters down on the table. “I have a rule about other leaders. Do you want to hear it?” Marshall brushed the hair from her face.