The Blade of Shattered Hope 1r-3

by James Dashner

  The thought had barely formed when the entire formation exploded, chunks and chips of wood flying out in all directions. Tick fell to the ground and covered his head with both arms. He felt the prick of splinters, the whoosh of bigger pieces flying right over him. When it seemed as though the worst had passed, he looked up and saw Jane standing there, her arms once again outstretched.

  “Atticus, we have to stop this!” she yelled.

  Tick jumped to his feet. She was trying to trick him; he knew it. He threw another blast of Chi’karda at her; she blocked it with a visible bubble of solid air tinted orange. The concussion wave bounced back and knocked him to the ground, jolting the breath out of him once again. As he struggled for air, he clawed to gather another pool of his power, knowing she’d probably finish him off while he was down.

  But when he staggered to his feet, she only stood there, her mask surprisingly showing concern, not anger.

  “Atticus, stop,” she said in her scratchy, painful voice. “Give me five minutes to explain!”

  Tick felt a rush of anger just as he pulled in a long, blissful breath. “It’s too late, Jane! I can’t let you go one more day killing and hurting!”

  A ball of power filled him, almost bursting his chest. He unleashed it, threw it all at Jane.

  Her shield formed again, resisting his attack. Tick was ready for the rebound of force this time, and he leaned into it, fighting it with his own strength. He let all his fears and inhibitions fall away, all his caution. She seemed to be getting stronger, and he knew he had to go for it. Screaming, he searched and probed his inner mind and body for every last trickle of Chi’karda, channeling it and throwing it at Jane.

  She fought back. A wind tore through the air as the crackle of electricity and booms of thunder filled the world around them. Streaks of orange swirled and kicked; bursts of fire ignited here and there like ribbons of flame; the trees in the forest bent unnaturally away from them; mud and chunks of wood took flight, swirling like loose paper in a tornado. As Tick and Jane fought, their battling powers looked like two stars colliding, white and brilliant and blinding.

  Tick hadn’t stopped screaming. The world rushed and burned around him. He couldn’t see. Life seemed to be draining out of his body. He didn’t know how much longer he could last. A trickle of despair dented his heart. He pushed harder.

  Somehow he heard Jane yell the words, “We have to stop!”

  “No!” Tick shouted back in a ripped shriek that tore through his burning throat. He pushed harder, flinging his whole life at her.

  A sound like the world splitting in two pierced his ears, his brain, his every nerve.

  And then, in a sudden instant, everything stopped.

  All light disappeared. Tick felt himself flying through a dark and silent wind.

  Time stretched on, blank and quiet. Eventually, he felt nothing.

  Chapter

  62

  The Detour

  I can’t believe my own eyes.”

  Tick barely heard the words. A man. His voice was soft, but slightly… menacing, like small, sharp-nosed worms, slowly working their way into Tick’s brain, needling and hurting. The world around Tick was still dark.

  The stranger spoke again. “Atticus Higginbottom and Mistress Jane. Together, with me, at last.”

  Tick felt himself blinking, felt tears in his eyes, felt pain coursing through every inch of his body. But still nothing-blackness.

  The man wouldn’t be quiet, and his every word throbbed in Tick’s skull. “I have no idea how it happened, but I can’t say I’m not pleased. It’ll be nice to have some help. I’m sure between the three of us, we can get out of here.”

  Tick kept blinking and finally saw a faint smudge of light against the darkness.

  “Where… where are we?”

  Jane. It was Jane. She sounded even worse than usual.

  The man chuckled, a horribly unpleasant sound. “You’re safe and sound, Mistress. No worries. Plenty to eat around here. Plenty of everything.”

  The light grew in Tick’s vision. Increased its pace of brightening. Shapes began to form.

  “I… warned him,” Jane said, her voice filled with resignation, as if she’d just accepted a horrible truth. “I…” She didn’t finish.

  Something clicked, and suddenly Tick could see everything. Gasping, he sat up, ignoring the bolts of pain that shot through his body. He sat on a beach with a perfect blue sky hanging overhead and crystal-clear water lapping against the white sand. An enormous and endless ocean stretched to his right, a forest of palm trees to his left. Mistress Jane lay flat on the ground, several feet away, her mask cracked and tilted.

  And sitting cross-legged next to Tick was Reginald Chu. The man who’d once ruled the Fourth Reality. The man who’d tried to rule all Thirteen with his Dark Infinity. The man who’d been sent to “Welcome to the Nonex, Atticus,” Chu said. “I hope you’re ready to help me get the heck out of here.”

  Epilogue

  The Mission

  Sofia sat between Paul and Sato on the couch, her arms folded, her foot tapping. Sally and Priscilla, both of whom had been in charge of collecting and helping the children rescued from the Factory, sat across from them, both looking down and as quiet as everyone else. Mothball was on the floor, leaning back against the bricks of the fireplace.

  Master George and Rutger finally entered the room, their faces grave.

  “I believe we finally have our report,” Master George announced, looking down at a stack of papers clasped in his hands. “The members of Sato’s Fifth Army are mostly safe and accounted for, having lost only”-he cleared his throat-“seventeen lives in battle. It looks like Sato and Mothball rescued ninety-seven children in all, and they are currently receiving the very best in treatment from Realitant doctors.”

  “We lost ten of them,” Sato mumbled under his breath. It was the first thing he’d said since winking away from the Thirteenth.

  “Why… yes, Sato. Yes, we did.” Master George paused, his eyes showing so much love for Sato that Sofia felt tears moisten her eyes. “The damage from our latest affairs is quite catastrophic. Every single Reality has suffered, and the recovery will take years. The worst by far is the Thirteenth, where… the final conflict inflicted utter devastation. It will take some time to discover just how much.”

  Sofia spoke up. “What happened to Tick?”

  “Yeah,” Paul said. “Out with it.”

  Master George nodded uncomfortably. “Yes, yes, we’re all very concerned about Master Atticus and what has become of him.” His voice squeaked on the last three words; a tear spilled down his cheek. “I’m afraid we have quite troubling-and confusing-news.”

  Sofia’s heart froze; her breath stopped.

  “I can’t say I understand it,” he continued, fidgeting with his papers. “His nanolocator started working again once his business with the Haunce was complete. But then… it just… well, it reported back something we’ve never seen before. Rutger, you tell them. I can’t bear to say another bloody word.” He threw the papers on the floor and stomped out of the room.

  Rutger took a moment before finally speaking.

  “According to our system, Atticus Higginbottom has ceased to exist.”

  Lisa had just fallen asleep-after a long time of trying to do so-when she felt someone shaking her by the shoulders, gently. She opened her eyes, ready to scream out in panic, when the sight of her mom silenced it. The glow of the moon shining through the window lit up Lorena Higginbottom’s face, making it look somehow kind and fiercely determined at the same time.

  Lisa knew she was up to something. “What’s going on?”

  “Keep quiet and follow me,” her mom whispered. “Don’t make a peep-you know your dad will wake up at the sneeze of a mouse.”

  Confused but intrigued, Lisa shook her grogginess away and got up from bed. Then the two of them tiptoed out of her room, down the hall, then down the stairs, both keeping to the silent spots as best they could.
Before long, Lisa’s mom had led her all the way down to the basement.

  After flicking on the light, Lisa repeated her earlier question. “What’s going on?”

  Her mom walked over to a dusty corner of the large room and dragged a couple of boxes away from the wall, then crouched down. “I know both you and I have been feeling like we want to help. To finally do our part in this whole mess. Especially now that my son”-she faltered, choked back the usual cry that had come so often since Master George had sent word that Tick was missing-“is nowhere to be found. I think it’s time we took a little of our own action.”

  Lisa nodded, feeling the same swell of emotion, knowing she couldn’t speak without cracking. But she agreed. Agreed wholeheartedly. She wanted to do something. She wanted to act.

  Her mom gripped a panel of the unpainted wall, and to Lisa’s surprise it came loose. She lifted out a large square and placed it on the ground. Swirls of dust puffed through the air. In the dark recess behind her, an object glinted.

  “You’ve been hiding something down here?” Lisa asked.

  “Yes. Though I never, never, never thought I’d have to use it again.” She leaned over and reached into the secret compartment.

  “What?” Lisa asked, moving closer to get a better look. “What is it?”

  Her mom pulled out a long, golden tube with dials and switches running down its sides, then held it up. “It’s a Barrier Wand, sweetie. It’s gonna help us find my boy.”

  A Glossary of People, Places, and All Things

  Important

  Atticus Higginbottom — A Realitant from the state of Washington in Reality Prime.

  Alterant — Different versions of the same person existing in different Realities. It is extremely dangerous for Alterants to meet one another.

  Annika — A spy for the Realitants who was killed by a pack of fangen.

  Barf Scarf — The red-and-black scarf that Tick used to wear at all times to hide the ugly birthmark on his neck.

  Barrier Wand — The device used to wink people and things between Realities and between heavily concentrated places of Chi’karda within the same Reality. Works very easily with inanimate objects, and can place them almost anywhere. To transport humans, they must be in a place concentrated with Chi’karda (like a cemetery) and have a nanolocator that transmits their location to the Wand. The wand is useless without the Chi’karda Drive, which channels and magnifies the mysterious power.

  Barrier Staff — A special Barrier Wand created by Mistress Jane.

  Benson — A servant of Reginald Chu in the Fourth Reality.

  Bermuda Triangle — The most concentrated area of Chi’karda in each Reality. Still unknown as to why.

  Billy “The Goat” Cooper — Tick’s biggest nemesis at Jackson Middle School.

  Blade of Shattered Hope — A weapon created by Mistress Jane that allows her to harness the power of dark matter and utilize the linking of her Alterants to sever a Reality from existence.

  Bryan Cannon — A fisherman in Reality Prime.

  Bugaboo Soldiers — The nemeses of the Fifth Reality, these assassins are bent on taking over their world. Often dressed as clowns, they are very unstable.

  Chi’karda — The mysterious force that controls Quantum Physics. It is the scientific embodiment of conviction and choice, which in reality rules the universe. Responsible for creating the different Realities.

  Chi’karda Drive — The invention that revolutionized the universe by harnessing, magnifying, and controling Chi’karda. It has long been believed that travel between Realities is impossible without it.

  Chu Industries — The company that practically rules the world of the Fourth Reality. Known for countless inventions and technologies, including many that are malicious in nature.

  Command Center — Master George’s headquarters in the Bermuda Triangle, where Chi’karda levels are monitored and to where his many nanolocators report various types of information.

  Darkin (Dark Infinity) Project — A menacing, giant device created by Reginald Chu of the Fourth Reality to manipulate others’ minds. Destroyed by Tick.

  Earwig Transponder — An insect-like device inserted into the ear that can scramble listening devices and help track its host.

  Edgar Higginbottom — Tick’s father.

  Entropy- The law of nature that states all things move toward destruction. Related to fragmentation.

  Factory, The- Located in the Thirteenth Reality, it is where Mistress Jane “manufactures” her abominable creations.

  Fangen — A creature created by Mistress Jane utilizing the twisted and mutated version of Chi’karda found in the Thirteenth Reality. Formed from a variety of no fewer than twelve different animals, the short and stocky creatures are bred to kill first and ask questions later. They can also fly.

  Fifth Army, The — Sato’s fighting unit, made up of people from the Fifth Reality.

  Firekelt — Creation of Mistress Jane. A monster covered in hundreds of cloth-like strips that ignite on demand.

  Fragmentation — When a Reality begins losing Chi’karda levels on a vast scale, it can no longer maintain itself as a major alternate version of the world and will eventually disintegrate into nothing. Its cause is related to entropy.

  Frazier Gunn — A loyal servant of Mistress Jane.

  Frupey — Nickname for Fruppenschneiger, Sofia’s butler.

  Gnat Rat — A malicious invention of Chu Industries in the Fourth Reality. Releases dozens of mechanical hornets that are programmed to attack a certain individual based on a nanolocator, DNA, or blood type.

  Grand Canyon — A satellite location of the Realitants. Second only to the Bermuda Triangle in Chi’karda levels. Still unknown as to why.

  Grand Minister — Supreme ruler of the Fifth Reality.

  Grinder Beast- An enormous, rhinoceros-like creature with dozens of legs in the Tenth Reality.

  Halters — A weapon that shoots out tiny darts laced with a paralyzing serum.

  Hans Schtiggenschlubberheimer — The man who started the Scientific Revolution in the Fourth Reality in the early nineteen-hundreds. In a matter of decades, he helped catapult the Fourth far beyond the other Realities in terms of technology.

  Haunce, The — A mysterious, ghostly, powerful being made up of billions upon billions of soulikens.

  Henry — A boy from the Industrial Barrens in the Seventh Reality.

  Hillenstat — A Realitant doctor from the Second Reality.

  Jimmy “The Voice” Porter — A Realitant from the Twelfth Reality. Has no tongue.

  Katrina Kay — A Realitant from the Ninth Reality.

  Kayla Higginbottom — Tick’s youngest sister.

  Klink — Guard of the Execution Exit at the End of the Road Insane Asylum.

  Kyoopy — Nickname used by the Realitants for Quantum Physics.

  Ladies of Blood and Sorrow — A mysterious society of women loyal to Mistress Jane.

  Lemon Fortress — Mistress Jane’s castle in the Thirteenth Reality.

  Lisa Higginbottom — Tick’s older sister.

  Lorena Higginbottom — Tick’s mother.

  Mabel Fredrickson — Tick’s great-aunt. Lives in Alaska.

  Master George — The current leader of the Realitants.

  Metaspide — A vicious robotic creature from the Fourth Reality that resembles a spider.

  Mistress Jane — A former Realitant and ruler of the Thirteenth Reality, she wields an uncanny power over Chi’karda. Since the accident in which she was “melded” with fragments of the Dark Infinity weapons, her power has increased tenfold.

  Mothball — A Realitant from the Fifth Reality.

  Ms. Sears — Tick’s favorite librarian.

  Muffintops — Master George’s cat.

  Multiverse — An old term used by Reality Prime scientists to explain the theory that Quantum Physics has created multiple versions of the universe.

  Nancy Zeppelin — A Realitant from Wisconsin in Reality Prime.

&nbs
p; Nanolocator — A microscopic electronic device that can crawl into a person’s skin and forever provide information on their whereabouts, Chi’karda levels, etc.

  Nonex — When Alterants meet, one disappears and enters the Nonex. A complete mystery to the Realitants.

  Norbert McGillicuddy — A post office worker in Alaska who helped Tick and his dad escape an attack by Frazier Gunn.

  Paul Rogers — A Realitant from Florida in Reality Prime.

  Phillip — Owner and operator of the Stroke of Midnight Inn in the Sixth Reality.

  Pick — Master George’s nickname for a major decision in which Chi’karda levels spike considerably. Some Picks have been known to create or destroy entire Realities.

  Priscilla Persiphone — A Realitant from the Seventh Reality.

  Quantum Physics — The science that studies the physical world of the extremely small. Most scholars are baffled by its properties and at a loss to explain them. Theories abound. Only a few know the truth: that a completely different power rules this realm, which in turn rules the universe: Chi’karda.

  Quinton Hallenhaffer — A Realitant from the Second Reality.

  Ragers — An advanced weapon that harnesses extreme amounts of static electricity. When unleashed, it collects matter in a violent, earthen ball that can shatter whatever gets in its way.

  Realitants — An organization sworn to discover and chart all known Realities. Founded in the 1970s by a group of scientists from the Fourth Reality, who then used Barrier Wands to recruit other quantum physicists from other Realities.

  Reality — A separate and complete version of the world, of which there may be an infinite number. The most stable and strongest is called Reality Prime. So far, thirteen major branches off of Prime have been discovered. Realities are created and destroyed by enormous fluctuations in Chi’karda levels. Examples:

  Fourth — Much more advanced technologically than the other Realities due to the remarkable vision and work of Hans Schtiggenschlubberheimer.