Day Zero

by Kresley Cole

  Which couldn't be right. I checked the clock on my phone. Night. The sky should be getting darker.

  A shrill shriek sounded. Then came an explosion. Before it could subside, there was another. And another . . . The roar was deafening.

  Everyone hunched down. One man cried, "We're under attack! Those must be bombs!"

  Hardly. If bombs had been dropped, we'd all be dead. And who would blanket an airport in weak bombs? I thought it was an even worse scenario: airplanes were dropping out of the sky. "They're planes," I murmured.

  Even over all the commotion, some guy in a suit heard me. "And how would you know about the planes? What are you doing with that phone?"

  I swallowed. "Checking the time." I stowed the phone in my pocket.

  "Boy, you got yourself a weird accent," Big Guy said--in a weird accent. "Why would you say planes are dropping?"

  How to explain to a man wearing an orgasm-donor T-shirt that bombs didn't make sense?

  A screech drew our attention toward the front of the train, where the light was. Another train car was coasting toward us, seeming to roll with no brakes or power, just kinetic energy. A wayward train.

  A ghost train.

  People aimed their flashlight apps at the car. The exterior was charred black, and all the windows had been shattered. Was that blood splattered over the remaining shards of glass?

  As the car grated past us, it dragged a chunk of a plane's fuselage.

  Evidence that planes had dropped.

  All eyes turned to me--as if I had done that. I raised my hands. Big Guy looked like he was about to murder me with his meaty fists.

  "I'm just a student. I-I didn't have anything to do with this!"

  Big Guy had followers now. As he and two other men stalked closer, I felt some odd force building inside me.

  "Don't come any closer!" My hands shook, my body vibrating with energy. Something was happening.

  Was I truly the Star?

  My mind flashed to my chronicles. Nova. Supernova. Superluminous supernova. Stellar-mass black hole. Inburst. Outburst. Nuclear fusion.

  Cataclysm.

  "I-I don't want to have an outburst! Please, stay back." They didn't. That energy inside me seemed to draw in on itself. Soon it would demand an outlet. "Please! I don't want to hurt you!"

  Big Guy's eyes went wild. "So you did have something to do with this!"

  "Nooo!" I felt like I was about to explode! My raised hands vibrated so fast, I couldn't make them out. Just two blurs. My jaw dropped at the sight.

  Big Guy seized the front of my shirt. Mistake.

  Luminescent matter erupted from me like a shock wave. "Ahhh!"

  In horror, I watched a blue light vaporize everyone before I lost consciousness. . . .

  Slow to wake. What a bizarre dream.

  Something hard was gouging my side. Had I fallen asleep with a book in my bed? I frowned. Was that . . . metal? I opened my eyes.

  Ah, God, I lay on tracks! Naked? I shot upright. Dread coursed through me as I craned my head around.

  The train! My breath strangled in my throat. What was left of the train.

  The exterior had exploded, metal furling outward, like a tin can blown up by dynamite.

  I gaped at the wreckage, imagining my next text to my parents: You were right about everything.

  The Moon (XVIII)

  Selena Lua, Bringer of Doubt

  "Behold the Bringer of Doubt."

  A.k.a.: The Huntress, La Luna

  Powers: Pathokinesis (emotion manipulation). Can cause doubt and use moonlight as a lure. Enhanced speed, endurance, senses, dexterity, healing. Precise aiming and superhuman archery.

  Special Skills: Motorcycling, marksmanship.

  Weapons: Longbow, sword, firearms, whatever's handy.

  Tableau: A glowing goddess of the hunt with red-tinged skin, poised in moonlight.

  Icon: Quarter moon superimposed over a full moon.

  Unique Arcana Characteristics: Skin glows red like a hunter's moon.

  Before Flash: Motocross champion, Olympic archery hopeful, and college student who just moved away from her aunts' home.

  Highland University campus

  Day 0

  2:01 a.m.

  As I lay paralyzed in a lacrosse player's bed that smelled of sweat and stale beer, I listened to four players debate who would get "first dibs."

  On me.

  I willed my muscles to work. None did.

  I mentally screamed for my eyes to open. They refused.

  All I could do was lie there, helpless, and replay the events that had gotten me to this point.

  _______________

  Three weeks ago

  "Of course you're not leaving, Lena." Aunt Wanda adjusted her glasses, her nervous tell. "You belong here with us."

  "Why would you go to college?" Aunt Sharon demanded. She was as confident as Wanda was nervous. "The only things you need to learn concern the game."

  Always with the game! I might've been cursed to be the Moon Card, the Bringer of Doubt--but that didn't mean a normal life was impossible.

  My card was associated with longing. No more. I was sick and tired of not having friends to talk to, not having a boyfriend, not doing any of the normal stuff teenagers got to do. Resolved, I shook my head. "I'm going." I pushed past them out the front door.

  They followed, stopping short at the sight of my new black Tahoe. Sharon snapped, "Where did you get that? You don't have access to your trust fund for years."

  Shoulders back, I said, "I traded in Dad's bikes." God, I'd agonized over that decision. He'd won some of his most famous motocross races on them. But I figured he and Mom would've wanted me to use them to get out from under Sharon and Wanda's rule.

  I tossed my bow case inside the SUV, then headed back toward the house. I only had a one more trip.

  Sharon followed alongside me, the breeze ruffling her long dark hair. "We forbid you to leave." Wanda trailed, wringing her hands.

  I laughed. "I'm eighteen." And stronger than a dozen women put together. "You can't forbid shit." I stopped at the front door and asked them, "Why would you begrudge me this when we all know I'm probably gonna die soon?"

  Die meant lose. That kind of thinking was blasphemy to them.

  Sharon's expression turned fierce. "No, you will win!"

  And if I did, what would immortality do for me? Just bring me more longing. Endless helpings of it.

  In a firmer tone, I said, "The game will begin soon." I'd already started hearing the calls, and some of my powers were blooming (otherwise I never would've believed these two about the game). "If some disaster is about to strike, I plan to experience real life before then."

  Though we lived in a mansion and they'd taken me all over the world, I didn't have a single friend to text. I'd never been on an official date.

  "Yes, a disaster is coming!" Wanda cried. "That's why you need to stay close to us. We've prepared for every possible scenario." The two were secret preppers.

  "You're not listening to me! Just forget it." I went inside and jogged up the steps to my room. Snagging my suitcase, I took one last look around, then returned to the landing.

  They hovered at the foot of the stairs. As I bounded down, Sharon said, "Just think about what you're doing."

  I'd thought of little else, from the day I'd turned eighteen.

  For the past nine years, I'd obeyed their orders blindly--mental and physical training for ten hours a day, following a strict diet, never socializing--but in the last year, I'd started to wonder about them.

  When I was nine, I'd heard them arguing with my mom. They'd wanted more access to me, but my parents had limited my visits to their home to one night every few weeks. On one of those nights, my family's home had burned down.

  With my parents in it.

  When I shimmied past them, Wanda said, "Very well. If you must go to college, we'll move there with you. We can get a house prepared--"

  "Half of the reason I'm leaving i
s to get away from you!" I kept walking.

  "People out there aren't like us." Sharon dogged my heels. "They won't care about you. We're the only ones who will always have your back."

  I faced them. "Like you had my parents'?" There. I'd said it.

  I'd adored my folks. I'd adored my childhood with them. If my aunts had stolen them from me . . .

  Wanda and Sharon were Arcana fanatics--one a chronicler, one a Tarasova. They worshipped the game, worshipped my place in it. My parents had stood in the way of my training.

  Sharon smoothly asked, "What on earth are you talking about, Lena?"

  With my enhanced hearing coming online, I detected the slightest change in her breath and tone. Was this because my accusation had shocked her? Or because she was lying? I turned to Wanda. "Did the two of you burn down our home?"

  "Of course not!" Her eyes went wide. "Do you really think we could murder our sister?"

  The idea sounded so ridiculous when she said it like that. So why couldn't I shake my suspicion?

  "This is all moot," Sharon said. "You can't afford tuition without your trust fund. Your father's bikes will only take you so far."

  "Then it's a good thing I got an archery scholarship." Their faces paled at that. "Really, duh. As soon as I expressed interest, the school took care of everything."

  Wanda's gaze darted as she cast about for something to say. "You think it's easy to make friends and fit in? You're a goddess among mortals; they will want to hurt you. It's easier not to put yourself in their sights."

  I rolled my eyes. "So I should never make a friend--just because you two decided not to put yourselves out there? Just because you'll never have relationships or lives of your own?"

  In a tone ringing with finality, Aunt Sharon said, "If you go, you will fail."

  "Will I? Don't you two get it? You will never make the Moon Card doubt herself."

  _______________

  Six days ago

  "You're Selena, right?" some chick asked me after history class.

  I drew up short. "That's me."

  She smiled widely. "I'm Candy Sanderson. Really great to meet you." We shook hands.

  It's happening! I'd only been in school for two weeks, already dominating discussions and turning in extra credit, and now I might be about to make a friend. Be cool, Lena!

  "I was wondering why you didn't rush this summer."

  As in sorority rush? "Never really thought about it."

  "I'm not trying to be stalker-y, but I heard you're a varsity athlete, and you're obviously committed to your classes. We're always looking for cute girls with good grades and athletics. But especially the good grades, so our chapter doesn't get put on probation!" She laughed. "You should consider the spring rush."

  "Yeah. I'll give it some thought." I figured I wasn't exactly sorority material, and it might interfere with my archery "practice" (which consisted of me showing up and acting like I couldn't hit the bull's-eye every time). But if one friend was good, an entire pledge class would be even better.

  Candy said, "There's a rager Saturday at the lacrosse team's house. You want to go with me?"

  Be cool, be cool! "Yeah, that sounds fun."

  _______________

  Three hours ago

  "Chug, chug!" everybody around the table chanted.

  All eyes were on me as I downed my Solo cup. My partner, Brian, the captain of the lacrosse team, and I were crushing it in beer pong. Was there ever an easier target? I'd forced myself to miss a shot, losing control of the table, but I'd get it back now.

  After gulping the last swig, I grinned at Candy on the sidelines. She smiled back with a little less enthusiasm than earlier.

  When we'd first gotten to the party, she'd introduced me to everyone like I was her new best friend, telling them I'd be rushing.

  The Moon had been over the moon.

  Candy had grown less possessive when I'd started cutting up with the lacrosse players like I was each one's long-lost girlfriend.

  I got the sense that she'd wanted me to shine--just not this much.

  But I was the Moon. Shining was what I did.

  Then Brian, her secret crush, had paid all this attention to me. Who could blame him? I was wearing a black slinky number I'd ordered from a posh catalog. But I was more interested in having a friend. I could get a date once I'd locked Candy down.

  I'd tried to get Brian to partner with her in this game, but he'd insisted on me.

  I studied her expression. Was I about to lose my first line on a friend? I elbowed Brian. "Candy looks hot tonight, doesn't she?" She must've heard me; she tilted her head, a hopeful look on her face. "She's a total babe."

  He frowned. "Who? You're the only babe I'm interested in," he slurred.

  Shit! "I have a boyfriend," I hastily said. "But I bet I could get Candy's digits for you."

  "Your guy's not here, is he?" Brian said. "When the cat's away, the mice will play, right?" He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face.

  Candy flounced off just as the pong ball plopped into one of our cups. Brian handed the drink to me. "I'll give you the honors since you've got a lot of catching up to do."

  "Yeah. Sure thing." I put the cup to my lips.

  "Chug, chug!"

  _______________

  An hour or so ago

  "I don't feel s'good," I told Brian. My legs didn't want to work right. I hadn't drunk more than three cups of beer, so why was I this weakened?

  Was this part of my Arcana transformation? Were more powers coming online?

  The room blurred. Faces were fuzzy.

  I wanted to find Candy, but Brian had his fist clamped around my left arm and was steering me away from the crowd.

  My tongue didn't seem to fit in my mouth as I asked, "Where're we heading?"

  "Don't you want to see my room?"

  Was it just me or did he sound way less drunk than he had before? "Nooo. Wanna find Candy."

  "Your friend's hooking up with somebody else." His grip tightened. "Come on, we want to show you something upstairs."

  We? I managed to crane my head around. Three of his teammates had joined us, one of them taking my other arm.

  I was the Huntress, but the way these guys looked at me gave me chills. . . . All of a sudden, I felt like the prey. "Not going upstairs!" I flung away, using all my strength, but they just laughed.

  One of them said, "We caught a wildcat tonight."

  I'd tracked wildcats through dense forests. Right now, I was nothing like them. I had as much bite as a newborn kitten.

  Realization dawned. These guys . . . they'd drugged me.

  I'd expected treachery from other Arcana. Not from humans.

  We passed wasted partiers. I tried to signal for help, but no one paid any attention to me. The four players steered me to another hallway. My stomach dropped when I saw a stairway ahead. I couldn't let them force me up those steps--

  Candy! My eyes went wide. She was in the hall making out with some guy! "Candy!" I screamed, but it came out like a slurred murmur.

  I tried to reach for her, but those guys had my arms. "Help me!" I had never in all my life said those words.

  She drew back from the guy. She would see what was wrong with me! She would know what these assholes had done.

  She looked me up and down. With a smirk, she muttered, "What a total slut"--then went back to kissing that guy.

  Tears pricked my eyes. I wanted to sob. My first friend.

  At the foot of the stairs, I attempted a last show of resistance, but only managed to collapse.

  Brian caught me, laughing. "Oops-a-daisy!" He wrapped an arm around me, hauling me up against his side. "There she goes." With another laugh, he told the others, "Have you ever noticed they never make it to the stairs?"

  They'd drugged other girls too.

  My vision grew blurrier as they forced me up the steps. My shoes were gone, my limp feet dragging behind me. I couldn't move my legs, couldn't fight.

  Soon I'd blac
k out. Would I remember any of this?

  The last thing I saw was the door to Brian's room.

  _______________

  Now

  The four had just decided on dibs--Brian would "go" first--when some other guy barged into the room. He demanded a spot in line, or at least to "film the action" on his phone.

  I'd never felt frustration like this! Not in waking life. After my parents had burned to death, I used to dream that I was screaming and not making a sound.

  Now I was living that nightmare.

  I thought of moonlight streaming through the forest. I pictured my bow, and imagined how I would put an arrow into each of these guys--if I could remember this night. I replayed how it'd felt to run the forest with my growing speed and strength. My aunts had been right about one thing.

  I am a goddess.

  One foot moved slightly. Then the other.

  Brian climbed into the bed. "Such a sweet piece of ass," he told me. "I'm going to pound you so hard you'll feel it for a week."

  One of the other players said, "Ah, yeah! Nail that bitch."

  Another yelled, "Tap that ass!"

  My heart thundered. My eyes darted behind my lids. My right hand clenched.

  Brian started hiking up my skirt.

  My aunts' words resonated within me like a prayer: Moonlight is doubt. It is the light of darkness. It is the color of nightmares. You were born to shine in dark times. Be the doom of others.

  My eyes flashed open.

  Brian's went wide. "Whoa! This bitch is waking up. Get me that drink!"

  More drugs? I opened and closed my fists. The hell that would be happening!

  One of them sprang across the room to retrieve a cup, hurrying back with it. Brian shifted out of the way to give the other guy access. When he lifted my head and forced the rim against my lips, I thrashed my head away.

  The Moon was regaining her strength. I would be the color of their nightmares.

  My hands shot against his chest, stiff-arming him off the bed.

  As I sat up, my skin began to turn red for the first time. They scrambled back, horrified. The guy who'd been filming dropped his phone.

  With each second I burned red, I shook off more of the drug's effects. When my body was under my control again, I stood and smiled at Brian. "I'm going to pound you so hard you'll feel it--for the rest of your life."

  One guy tried to run for the door. I vaulted in front of it. "Ah-ah. No one's going to miss out on their turn with me. You'll have to be carried from this bedroom, just like you carried me in."