Once in the hallway, the pair made their way to the platforms. “Where are we going?” Ethan asked nervously. “They’re being kept in the military compound,” Hunter explained. He motioned for Ethan to stand in the middle circle, flashing a reassuring smile. Ethan’s body tingled with the sudden whoosh of cold air as he was transported to the other building.
Upon arrival, he was greeted with the sight of heavily armed personnel striding up and down the pathways. In an instant, Hunter was behind him, gently pushing him farther into the crowd. He noticed the MalJari guards wore a patterned leather tunic with intricate weaving that made the garment appear strong and sturdy. A computerized arm band was laced through the stitching, covering the entire left side.
Ethan pondered what it was for. As if reading his mind, Hunter said, “They make our power stronger. That’s how we can capture the MalJari who break the rules. It’s like a small generator that amplifies our abilities.” Ethan frowned. He was already frightened by his abilities; there was no way he would want them enhanced. “Through here,” Hunter directed. They stopped at a staircase that spiraled deep beneath the streets. After descending a few flights, they came to a stop in front of a gate adorned with dozens of complex equations on it. He watched as Hunter manipulated the images, forming a circle as large as the door.
He was utterly enthralled, memorizing every detail, every number, every sequence. The circle moved clockwise one full rotation before the door slid open. It was a lock, he realized. Ethan followed him in through the force field, glancing in every direction, searching for a threat. The lights in this part of the building were not nearly as bright as the others, shrouding them in a gloomy obscurity. As they reached the end of the dark passageway, Ethan noticed various doors lining the walls. He looked from side to side, attempting to guess which one Edred was in.
A MalJari soldier spotted them and was quickly at their side, speaking to Hunter. Ethan couldn’t understand what they were saying until Hunter turned to him and said, “He will take us the rest of the way.” Apparently, they were being kept separate from the rest of the prisoners. Ethan didn’t know if that was good or bad yet.
They soon arrived at another set of doors but these were heavily guarded. Two MalJari stood on either side, each one commanding strength and power but one stood out. Not only was he the biggest of them all, he was also the only one who didn’t seem to trust Ethan. Spiteful eyes were on him as the door was opened and he was allowed to go through. He swallowed nervously when the same guard followed in behind them. They came to a glass wall roughly 25 feet from the entrance, that was frosted over. Being familiar with this technology, Ethan walked up to it and tapped on the glass. Instantly, the wall turned clear, revealing very tired, battered and scared humans. The expansive space held six beds in sets of two stacked on top of each other and a door he assumed led to a bathroom. He was glad that his friends at least appeared to be comfortable.
When their eyes met, Ethan’s heart faltered a little when Edred’s expression widened in fear. The older man had spotted Hunter, who was now dressed as a MalJari. “Open it,” Hunter demanded. The guard did as he was told and entered a code directly on to the glass. The doors slid open as Edred got to his feet. He marched right past Ethan and smashed his fist in Hunter’s face. The guards were on him in an instant, grappling him to the ground. He screamed in pain as his broken arm was smashed in the process.
“It’s fine. Let him go,” Hunter ordered, holding on to his cheek. It took all of Ethan’s willpower to not rush over and see if the MalJari boy was okay. The guards hesitated but eventually released Edred. “You traitor!” he seethed. Ethan approached Edred now, attempting to calm him. “He isn’t a traitor. He was helping us,” Ethan protested. Edred glared in disgust. “He’s one of them!” he shouted. Ethan’s eyes cast down to the floor. “So am I,” he whispered. “Am I a traitor?”
Edred was confused by the question. Of course, he wasn’t a traitor. Ethan was human, right? “I’m just like him Edred. Am I a traitor too?” Edred didn’t speak but shook his head as he cradled his injured arm. “The reason you’re still alive is because Hunter begged his father not to kill you.” That statement sobered Edred and Ethan wasn’t sure if it was because Hunter had fought to spare them or because he mentioned Hunter’s father. Ethan motioned for Edred to sit down on one of the beds before settling next to him.
“Are you guys okay?” he asked. A few wary nods were all he got in return. They appeared unharmed, clean and well-fed. He couldn’t help but think Hunter had something to do with their amenable accommodations. He addressed Edred now. “And you?” The older man stared at the wall. “I’ve had worse, I guess.” Hunter scoffed at the comment while Ethan glared at them both. “I’m going to get you out of here, okay? I need you to trust me.”
Edred studied the boy for a moment before speaking. “I trust you. It’s him I don’t trust.” Hunter met the older man’s hard eyes and steely jaw but remained silent as one of the guards mumbled something in his ear. “Time to go,” Hunter announced. Ethan stood and carefully regarded the prisoners one by one. “I’ll get you out of here,” he promised before walking away.
Once they were back on the main level, Hunter took Ethan aside. “I want to show you something.” Ethan nodded and let himself be led to a glass elevator overlooking the interior of the building. As they ascended, Ethan realized just how tall the structure was. They continued to climb until Ethan was certain they had reached the clouds but instead, when the doors opened, he was met with the most breathtaking sight of his life. “Wow,” he whispered as he stepped out onto a large terrace that reached the ends of the building. All of Kowend was on display for him and it was almost too much to take in. In front of him, a rippling aqua blue expanse that reached the horizon. To his left and right, stone and glass structures that weaved themselves in between the surrounding mountains and waterfalls. The crisp air circled around them, howling at the altitude. The trees rustled to life, kicking up stray leaves into the air.
“I know it’s not as nice as Abby’s rooftop but…” Ethan stared at Hunter for a while though he knew the boy wasn’t going to finish the sentence. Minutes passed in silence and all the while Ethan was fighting the urge to grab Hunter and kiss him. He didn’t know why he was still resisting. Obviously, he was stubborn but it was something more. “Are you ever going to forgive me?” Hunter asked. Ethan bit his lip in concentration but decided on a different approach. “Your name isn’t Hunter, is it?” The MalJari boy blinked in surprise. He shook his head softly. “My real name is close though,” he answered. “What’s your real name then?” Ethan’s hopeful expression did nothing to ease Hunter’s nerves.
He hesitated. It was now or never and though he was terrified of Ethan’s reaction, he knew the deception had to end. “My name is Halson.” The response hit Ethan like a punch to the stomach. The dreams now made sense. Whichever MalJari they used for the DNA splice was someone who loved Hunt- Halson very much and judging by the intimacy of some of the dreams, the feeling was mutual. Ethan’s eyes welled up but he fought the urge to cry. Had it all been a lie? Were Hunter/Halson’s affections for him based on his love for someone else?
“You loved him, right? And I remind you of him? Is that what this is?” He couldn’t help the sniffle that escaped as he spoke. “It’s not like that,” Halson tried to explain but Ethan was already turning away. “Please look at me,” he begged and after a few long moments, Ethan finally gazed at him. Halson brushed his fingers along Ethan’s sleeve, needing to maintain contact. “I admit you reminded me of him at first. You have his eyes.” Ethan shut them upon hearing that. “And you have his abilities, but other than that, you’re nothing alike.”
When Ethan opened his eyes once more he was met with something he didn’t expect; sincerity. Halson/Hunter cupped his face, gently stroking his cheek with his thumb. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but I do love you. Not who you remind me of, but you Ethan. You’re the only thing that matters to me now.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ethan did the only thing that felt right, he reached up and kissed Halson. It was nothing like their first kiss which was electric and pulsing with passion. Now, entwined together, this kiss felt more like home. It was as if their honesty had brought down a wall and their affection was no longer about physicality, though that aspect was still there.
They broke free, both in need of oxygen but touched their foreheads to remain close. “No more lies. Please Hun- Halson.” Ethan smiled sheepishly at the slip up. “You can call me whatever you want, as long as I’m yours.” Ethan immediately rolled his eyes. “That’s soooo cheesy!” Hunter grinned wide. “But it made you smile, right?” The boy laughed, playfully slapping the MalJari on the chest.
They walked over to the edge of the rooftop and sat down. For a few silent minutes, Ethan simply stared at the scenery around him. The landscape was nothing like Daventry. Here, the hills morphed into mountains, ruggedly hugging the edges of the city. Instead of small pockets of water, Kowend had a massive lake that ebbed and flowed in a way Ethan never knew water could. Even the sky appeared brighter, shining onto every crevice, painting the city in light.
“What’s it like,” Ethan began, turning his head to Halson, “to have a family? A mother and a father?” Halson was unsure of how to answer. He had been with his parents for hundreds of years. It would be impossible to explain life without them. “They’re a part of me, of who I am.” Ethan frowned. Halson realized that Ethan had no idea the warmth and security that having parents afforded. He wouldn’t have had someone to be there when he was afraid or to look after him if he was sick. Ethan grew up alone, as did every citizen of Daventry, as did every human on earth.
“That sounds nice,” Ethan whispered. Halson took Ethan’s hand into his. “You’re not alone anymore Ethan. I’ll never let anything happen to you.” Ethan huffed. “You can’t promise that.” Halson looked at him sadly. He wanted to hug Ethan and tell him that everything would be alright but even he knew it would be a lie. “Something has started, something that I can’t yet comprehend but I know it’s not good. A lot of people are going to get hurt, so don’t make me a promise that you can’t keep!” Tears welled in the boy’s eyes. “Ethan look at me,” Halson ordered, placing a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Whatever happens, we will get through it together, okay? You and me.”
Ethan allowed himself to believe Halson and trust that whatever was coming their way, they would deal with it together. They were grinning brightly at each other when they heard, “You two are so cute it’s disgusting.” They abruptly stood, searching around them trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. Suddenly Ethan was jerked to the side, almost falling over. He didn’t know what happened, only that Halson had pushed him away. When he looked over, Halson had fallen to his knees, pulling a small dart from the back of his neck. He stared at Ethan sleepily before slumping over. In a panic Ethan scanned the area, finding a tall figure looming near the elevator but the sun was too bright for him to make out the face. Before he could run, he felt a sharp sting across his neck, followed by another in his arm. The ground gave out beneath him as he succumbed to the effects of the projectile and face planted hard. He could hear mumbling and a cold shiver ran down his spine when he recognized the second voice approaching him.
CHAPTER 19
G roggy and lightheaded, Ethan opened his eyes, a task that proved more difficult than he anticipated. He attempted to focus his vision but everything was muddled together; a jumbled mess of shadows and angles. He shut his eyes tightly and opened them again. He tilted his neck back so he could search out in front of him, but his head felt cumbersome, falling forward sharply. The air was uncharacteristically cold, almost to the point of freezing. Labored breaths left his mouth in puffs of steam, billowing and then evaporating before his eyes.
He was shaking uncontrollably, his body reacting to the low temperature. He wanted to rub his arms together for warmth but when he went to lift his hand, he noticed it was tied down. He jerked both arms over and over but they wouldn’t budge. He then realized his legs and feet were bound as well. He tried to not panic but could already taste the fear as it crawled upon him. He was weak and overwhelmed, unsure of his surroundings and concerned over his lack of motor skills. Movement was heard around him but the silhouette of his captor was blurry.
A hand brushed across his shoulder, stopping at the back of his neck. The cold hand tightened slightly causing Ethan to squirm. “Oh Ethan,” a distant sounding voice inquired. Ethan tried to recognize the person speaking but he couldn’t. It wasn’t Halson and surprisingly, it wasn’t MalHalen either. So, who was holding him prisoner?
His chin was grabbed roughly, forcing his head back, surely as an attempt to get him to open his eyes. They fluttered but whatever drug was in his system was too strong and soon his eyes drooped again. The boy winced as a hand slapped his left cheek a few times. When his captor finally released his face, it immediately fell forward once more.
“Wake up my dear boy.” Ethan stilled. He would recognize that voice anywhere. After all he’s been hearing it for the past six months. “Preston?” Ethan muttered. It was barely above a whisper but it was all he could manage in his current state.
He struggled to raise his head, determined to meet the man’s eyes and confront him. “Where’s… where’s Halson?” Ethan mumbled. Speech was still difficult in his current state but he could feel his body gaining strength again, albeit slowly. “Oh, you mean ‘Hunter’? He’s around somewhere.” Ethan was getting angry. He had no idea what was happening but it certainly didn’t bode well for him that he was tied up and by Preston Andrews no less. “Where is he?” the boy demanded. Preston let out an exasperated sigh. “He’s fine. Now focus, because you have more important things to worry about.”
That’s when Ethan’s vision began to clear and he took in his surroundings. The icy metal chair was stiff beneath his body. His arms and legs were tightly bound and chained to the stainless surface. He had never seen such a contraption. Around the bizarre chair, he found various pieces of medical equipment, all buzzing and vibrating with purpose. The room was brightly lit but frigid. He still didn’t know exactly where he was but he could tell it would be a while before anyone found him. To make matters worse, whatever he was injected with was making it difficult to sense his abilities.
Suddenly, a troubling question arose. “How did you get into the city?” Preston shrugged easily. “The Commissioner, of course.” What did the Commissioner of Daventry have to do with Kowend? “Do you not know who the Commissioner really is?” Ethan shook his head softly. No one really knew who the Commissioner was, only that he was in charge of the Technology Sector. He watched as Preston rubbed his hands together to stave off the bitter cold. “He controls all of the cities in the Western Hemisphere both human and MalJari. Think of him as… MalHalen’s boss. Well, everyone’s boss really.” So, there were more cities out there? Ethan wondered how many and where when Preston used his sleeve to wipe at his nose.
But if the Commissioner was so powerful, why would he need the help of a human like Preston? “Why does he need you?” Ethan struggled to ask. The man simply chuckled. “You have a lot to learn, Ethan.” Preston crossed the room and began playing around on the machines, bringing them to life one by one. As soon as Ethan laid eyes on one, the panic set in. It wasn’t the largest device but the tubes coming out of it were the real cause for concern. There was something familiar about it, something Ethan didn’t want to remember.
“What do you want with me?” he asked, his voice cracking a bit. The man continued to push buttons but eventually answered, “The Commissioner has taken an interest in you. At first, he saw you as a threat. But now, after much deliberating, it appears you might be useful after all.” Ethan’s brows furrowed as he dissected the statement. Useful? How could he be useful? He was a sixteen-year-old kid with abilities he could barely control. Surely, there were other MalJari who could be more powerful, more useful?
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��I’m sure you have a million questions! I can already see the gears turning in that inquisitive mind of yours, but that will have to wait. First I need to get you ready.” Ethan searched the room anxiously. “Ready? Ready for what?” He pulled on his restraints more forcefully than before with no avail. He waited and waited for a response but it never came. Preston huffed irritably as he walked over to a computer screen and dialed out. Ethan wasn’t expecting what happened next.
“Honestly Godrik, why does it have to be so cold in here?!” Ethan blinked his eyes rapidly, attempting to focus them. He thought he was hallucinating because there was no way that after everything that had happened, Godrik would still be hurting him. “It’s necessary for the procedure Preston. Now stop complaining and get started.” It was Godrik’s voice but there was no warmth to it, no hint of humanity. He had never heard his former boss speak in such an icy tone. What happened to Godrik to make him like that?
“What are you doing?” Ethan asked suddenly. Preston was dragging an enormous piece of equipment over to him. It resembled a torture device or a monster with metal tentacles and sharp fangs. He trembled as it slid behind him, wrapping around the chair. It had two metal sleeves and a head piece that looked like an ornate silver crown. The arm pieces snapped over his skin, restraining him further. His eyes shut tightly, teeth grinding, heart pounding as the head piece slithered onto his forehead. He couldn’t stop shaking. Whatever was about to happen, would not only be bad, but painful.
Awaken_Ethan Drake Chronicles Page 21
