The Nexis Secret

by Barbara Hartzler

  A glimmer of hope surged through me. I clenched my teeth. Time to get it together. No more creepy shadow to hold me back. “Why don’t you just leave? I don’t know why you came, but I don’t want you here. Please go.”

  Jake’s face softened. “Luce, I miss you, that’s all.”

  “Maybe you should take this outside.” Bryan’s jaw tightened into a straight line, his eyebrows bunching up. He couldn’t be serious, like I’d ever let this crazy guy get me alone.

  “I won’t go anywhere with him. It’s over. It’s been over for months and I’m not discussing it.” Flashes of hot anger seethed under my skin ready to electrocute that crazy shadow if it came any closer. I kept my voice steady, loud and firm. “Leave.”

  Jake jerked back in his chair like he’d been slapped. “How can you say that? It wasn’t all bad, remember?” The smoky darkness lingered at his side. “I’m sorry, Luce, can’t we just get over it and move on?”

  “Stop it,” Bryan cut in. “You’re upsetting Lucy, can’t you see that? You heard the lady, it’s time for you to leave.”

  He squeezed my shoulder but kept his angry eyes on the cheater. What a hero.

  Jake slammed his fists on the table, hard. Everyone shot back against the booth. “I’m not leaving till I get an answer.”

  “You got your answer.” I stood, the words like a choke collar around my neck as the shadow lunged at me again. I jumped back and the wraith’s claws missed me by mere inches. I couldn’t let this guy win. I curled my fingers into my palms, clenching every muscle in my body. Something surged within me, burning my lungs. I felt powerful and alive, and I didn’t care any more. Jake needed to get this through his thick skull. “Leave or I’ll have my buddy here get the bouncers.”

  My eyes were stinging again. Great, here come the waterworks.

  “Get out of here.” Bryan towered over me, fists balled. “Or else.”

  “I don’t think so.” Jake growled, shoving his chair to the ground. The dark wraith billowed taller. “You don’t understand what’s going on here.”

  I wrapped my hand in the crook of Bryan’s bicep, praying someone would come to my rescue.

  “I understand perfectly.” His arm encircled my waist.

  Kevin rose from his chair. “Man, don’t make me call security.”

  “That isn’t necessary.” Jake eyed Bryan and Kevin. The shadow whispered something in his ear, and he glared at Bryan’s arm around me.

  “Look.” Bryan’s face twisted, his jaw set. “This is your last warning. Get out of here. Now.”

  Suddenly the shadow morphed into a hulking man, fists raised. He made a jab toward Bryan’s face, when out of nowhere a pillar of pure light shot down from the ceiling, halting the sinister arm mid-punch.

  I gasped and whipped my head toward Bryan. Blinking like a fool, I couldn’t believe my eyes. But it looked so real.

  At Bryan’s side stood a cloud of the brightest white I’d ever seen, outlined in the shape of one burly dude. He shone like the sun and flashed like lightning, his sculpted biceps refracting rays of light in every color. Breathtaking in beauty, if the light wasn’t so piercingly white.

  A sense of awe descended upon me. All the noises in the crowded restaurant faded into the background, hushed by the dazzling sight in front of me.

  The shadow-ghoul aimed another swipe, but the white-lightning man blocked the dark punch with one shining blow. Then he landed an uppercut right under the wraith’s ghastly jaw. Shards of every color whizzed by me like diamonds exploding in every direction.

  The shadow man exploded in a puff of flame and smoke, blowing hot wind on my face. Then Poof! He evaporated into thin air.

  It felt as if time stopped. All I could see was this immensely beautiful creature in front of me who saved me from a fate I didn’t ever want to imagine. And one word filled my mind.

  Angel.

  He winked one golden eye and blasted skyward, leaving a wake of light that seared my retinas. For a few seconds it was burned into my brain—unmistakable. The translucent outline of feathery wings. But then he disappeared through the restaurant ceiling. I could only stand there in utter amazement, my eyes fixed on that one spot, as if by sheer willpower I could make the glorious creature descend from the heavens and explain himself.

  Like why me, for example? How come I was the only one who could see what just happened? And how would I ever be able to explain any of this to a mere mortal?

  “Maybe I’ll see you around.” Jake’s voice was haughty, more like his usual self. Completely oblivious to the duel between light and shadow that had just totally rocked my universe.

  I lowered my gaze back down to the earthly fight in front of me. It all seemed so pointless now.

  Bryan grabbed a handful of Jake’s shirt and raised his fist. A low snarl escaped his throat. “If I ever see you hanging around Lucy, even on campus, you’ll wish you never set foot in this city.”

  “Okay, man.” A hint of fear clouded Jake’s eyes. Way to go, Bryan. “Relax, I’m going.”

  “Just let him go, man.” Kevin cocked his head at Bryan.

  He released Jake’s shirt and my evil ex stalked off, squinting daggers over his shoulder the whole time. Bryan stared Jake down until he punched open the front door.

  Then the waiter came back. “Everything all right, Kevin?”

  Suddenly my entire body started shaking. The restaurant whirled around me, whizzing in circles like a funnel cloud of light and shadow. Did I really just see angels fighting wraiths? How crazy was that?

  Bryan unclenched his fist, his fingers grazing my cheek. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know.” Everything spun by too fast, except Bryan’s face. Worry lines etched between his eyebrows, then it all faded out. Like I’d fallen into an abyss, and I’d keep falling forever. My knees buckled under me, but strong arms gripped me on either side. Bryan’s arms.

  Chapter 9

  Vague shapes greeted me when I opened my eyes, wisps of gray mist outlined by shadows. A dark hand pressed something cold against my forehead. Too cold. I jerked up, and the world righted itself again.

  Shanda rubbed my forehead.

  “What happened?” I searched the dining room. No strange images of shadowy figures and lightning men fighting, just worried faces from Shanda, Kevin, and Bryan. Disappointment seeped down the back of my throat. Back to reality.

  “I think you passed out.” Shanda peeled back the icy napkin from my forehead. “Any better?”

  “Getting there.” I tried to force out a smile, but it hurt my head. A fleeting thought passed through my mind, like maybe what I just saw was all in my head. Yet I knew, deep down, it was real. It felt so real.

  Bryan flagged down Jeremy, another worry line creasing over the bridge of his nose. “Get her a milkshake, quick.”

  Jeremy pulled the pen out from behind his ear. “What flavor?”

  “It doesn’t matter, chocolate I guess. It’s an emergency.” He rubbed my hands between his, faster and faster.

  Jeremy zigzagged among the maze of tables, like I’d started a fire or something. It would be almost laughable, if I had an ounce of energy to laugh.

  “What are you doing?” The friction from Bryan’s hands warmed me, surging through my body, pushing back the fog.

  A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I don’t know, just trying get your circulation going, I guess.”

  Jeremy reappeared and plopped the shake in front of me.

  Bryan ripped open the straw, dunking it in the cold liquid. “Sip this, slowly.”

  The icy chocolate goo sluiced down my throat. It tasted good. Then a fleeting sadness hit me. I couldn’t stop picturing the fight—the real one, with the angel and the shadow. And I just wanted the golden-eyed angel to come back. My head throbbed again. “Did that really just happen?”

  “What a jerk!” Shanda shouted as if she couldn’t contain it any longer. “I can’t believe he drove all the way here from Indiana. What a creep.”

 
; “I’m sorry I asked him to join us.” Kevin slumped over the remnants of his burger.

  “It’s not your fault. He would’ve sat down anyway. He thinks he owns the whole world.” Was my head the punching bag in that fight? It sure felt that way. I closed my eyes and rested my cheek on Bryan’s shoulder.

  Without saying a word, he reached over and stroked my hair.

  “Mmm, that feels nice,” I murmured. “I’m just glad you made him leave.”

  “No kidding, man. You saved the day.” Kevin pumped his fist in the air like he was Rocky.

  Shanda batted his arm down. “Guess it paid off, having friends here.”

  “You got that right.” Bryan lifted his hand from my head and picked up a French fry.

  “Tell me about it.” I would give Kevin a fist bump, if I had any strength left to move.

  Bryan dangled a fry in my face. “Maybe you should eat something.”

  “If you insist.” I munched on the cold fry, as if simple carbs could magically imbue me with enough courage to say what I knew I had to say. “I’m sorry to put you in the middle of that. You deserve an explanation.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” His hand returned to my hair. “That part’s up to you. It’s not like you owe me anything.”

  “Really?” When I lifted my eyes to meet his, the look on his face wasn’t the normal sad mixture of pity and horror. A glimmer of understanding lurked in his eyes, like maybe he could relate.

  “At least your ex doesn’t go to Montrose. Of course, mine never stalked me like yours has, at least not that I know of.”

  “Please.” Kevin exhaled sharply. “Like Colleen would ever stalk you. She’s way too good for you ever since she left the Guardians and joined Nexis.”

  “Is that what you and your chapel friends call yourselves? How fitting.” Then it dawned on me. “Wait, you dated Colleen?”

  “That’s right.” Bryan interrupted, giving Kevin the cold shoulder. “But that was a long time ago.”

  “So was Jake, or so I thought.” The words eked out in a low whisper, as if someone punched all the air out of me. The truth of what I’d seen swirled around with the straw in my shake. No way would these guys believe my angel-fighting shadow story. Even I didn’t know for sure if it was real. So I focused on the present reality. “I was so shocked at first to see him, then mad. Seething mad. When I’m that upset, I can barely speak, you know? I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t here.”

  With that I shoved a few fries into my mouth. Maybe I could hold off on the breakup spiel as long as possible. Once was enough for one week.

  “I should’ve said something sooner.” His voice grew loud enough that Kevin and Shanda put down their sandwiches. “I saw him hanging around outside the student union earlier today.”

  “On campus?” I almost choked on a fry. “I can’t believe him!” Nausea slapped me in the face like a giant wave. My hands shook and my heart fluttered again.

  “How’d he even find us here? It’s not like this is anywhere near campus.” Shanda’s eyes widened. “He must’ve been following us. That crazy stalker.”

  “Stop it. I don’t even want to think about it.” Images of the shadowy hand around my throat sent a chill through me. Bryan’s fingers brushed mine with a spark, like the angel when he appeared. In spite of the Jake trauma and the angel/shadow drama, I still felt electricity whenever Bryan touched me.

  “Isn’t there something we can do about it?” Shanda turned her head toward Kevin who only shrugged.

  “We should alert campus security,” Bryan switched to a matter-of-fact tone, “and your dorm mom. Other than that, there’s not much we can do, sorry to say.”

  “What about a restraining order or something?” Shanda shredded her napkin into confetti.

  “Not without any threat of violence.” Kevin clicked his tongue at her. “I heard it in my Criminal Law class. Besides, that wouldn’t stop an attack, just put him in jail if he tried anything. It makes me sick.”

  “It’s not that bad. He’s not violent or anything.” I shuddered at the mere idea of it. “Still, I’d feel better if we alerted campus security, like Bryan said.”

  I wobbled my bottom lip at Shanda, praying she could read my mind.

  She pushed back her chair and hooked her arm in mine. “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back. I’ll go with you when we get back to campus.”

  “I think we should all go with Lucy to talk to campus security.” Bryan’s hand found the small of my back and led me out of the restaurant, just like Will the other day. But I couldn’t think about that, not now.

  “Good idea.” Shanda nodded, catching up with Kevin.

  Bryan’s pace slowed and I slowed with him. “How about you come to our next chapel meeting? There are some things I want to show you.”

  The idea rolled around like a loose pinball in my brain. Nothing made sense any more. After what he did for me tonight, how could I turn him down?

  “I’d like that.” I smiled up at him and let him lead me down the busy sidewalk. After tonight, I might let him lead me anywhere.

  * * *

  Remnants of the weekend still slithered in and out of the corners of my mind. Jake showing up out of nowhere, the dark wraith versus the angel of light, smoke clashing with lightning. The images swirled in my head for the entire hour of Western Civ, until all I wanted to do was run out the door and into Bryan’s arms. But I couldn’t be that girl, the stupid schoolgirl always chasing some guy. Instead I trudged up the steps, into the mass exodus from Harlixton’s classroom. The paneled hall felt cold, no Bryan in sight. I’d give anything for his arm around me, even if I wasn’t supposed to want it. Kinda unnerving, really.

  “Wait up, Lucy.” A voice called from behind until the man himself stood beside me. “How are you doing today? You look great.”

  Those aqua eyes burned two little holes in me. I could’ve melted into the floor. “Thanks to you.”

  “Did you hear anything from campus security? I got this.” He lifted the bag off my shoulder, brushing back my hair.

  I turned away from the burning blue and smoothed my hair back in place, grazing the scar with my fingertips. “Besides the standard, ‘we’re looking into it’? Nothing yet.”

  “Then he’s still out there.” He practically punched open the outer door. Then his hand steadied and he held it open for me. “I knew it. I should’ve alerted campus security to the creep when I had the chance. I’m such an idiot.” His voice turned gritty.

  At the bottom of the steps I slowed my stride and cocked my head at him. “The last thing I would call you is an idiot.”

  “I don’t know about that.” His hands pressed down on my shoulders, holding me still. Yet the horizon swayed. “Listen, that’s not all I’m worried about. I know you probably won’t believe this coming from me, but Nexis is not what you think they are. Trust me. Can you tell me what happened at that meeting in the observatory?”

  “How’d you know about that?” This time I couldn’t look away, no matter how badly I wanted to. “I wish I knew who to trust. I don’t even know if I can trust myself any more.” The truth hummed around in my skull.

  All the color drained from his face, contrasting like night and day against his dark hair. “Please, God, tell me Will didn’t hurt you.”

  “Will? What are you talking about?” Fear clouded his eyes. I shook my head at him. “No way, the meeting was weird, but he never laid a finger on me. Except to save me from falling off the ledge.”

  A grin split his face. Shades of cream and beige flushed his cheeks. “Thank God. Are you sure that’s all?”

  “Pretty much.” That night was pretty strange. How could I have forgotten? “He showed me some weird book.”

  “He what?” Air whooshed from his lungs in a minty blast. “How could they let you anywhere near the Nexis book? You’re not even a member yet. I thought it was under lock and key.”

  Really, was that all he cared about, the stupid Nexis group?
Not the fact I had almost fallen from a five-story tower? I kicked the toe of my blue Toms against a crack in the sidewalk. “What’s the big deal? It was kind of weird. You don’t have to get mad about it.”

  His mouth hung open. I could’ve practically picked his jaw up off the cobblestone. “Mad? You think I’m mad? I’m in shock. It could’ve been much worse. He’s a very dangerous guy. The book part is extra strange, even for him, like he’s got something planned for you. It definitely puts a wrench into things.”

  “Are you for real?” Could he be right about Will? I squinted at him, studying his strange expression. Taut jaw, eyes steady and calm, no shifting off to one side, definitely not lying. Maybe just a hint of the furtive I’m-keeping-things-from-you look. “Is he that bad?”

  “I’m afraid so.” He wrapped his hand around mine. “Let’s get out of here. There’s some things I need to tell you. That I should’ve already told you.”

  “What about lunch?” Crickets chirped in the empty quad. Across the lawn, the lunch frenzy spilled over from the cafeteria. It’d be a madhouse in there right now.

  Car keys jingled in his hands. “I know a great diner in town. My treat.”

  He tugged me down the sidewalk to the parking lot, stopping in front of a beat-up Corolla.

  “Won’t we get in trouble for leaving school?” I never thought of Bryan as the bad boy who skipped class. Next thing you know he’d hand me a leather jacket and lead me to his real ride, a motorcycle. Adjusting my black leather jacket, I glanced back to the campus—so small from this distance.

  “Don’t worry about it, we’ll be back before our next classes. Hop in.” The car door groaned as he opened it for me. “This is Old Faithful. She got my sister through high school, and now she’s all mine.”

  I slid into the passenger seat, smacking my forehead on his Betty Boop air freshener. Her rotten strawberry smell clawed at my nose. “Back it up, Betty.”

  Bryan climbed in the driver’s side and started the car. “What’d you say?”

  “Nothing.” I eyed Betty’s dark lashes. “Just having a conversation with Betty there.”