“Hunter?” Hadley asked with wide eyes. Halson nervously rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip. “Um… about that,” he mumbled. Saia walked farther into the room, gathering everyone’s attention.
“Let’s take a seat, shall we?”
The main room was rather spacious, lined on either side with small plainly dressed beds. Near the entrance, where they were standing, several tables filled the center area with chairs in between. Those who didn’t have a chair sat on the surrounding beds. They stewed in silence for a few minutes, eyes jumping from one to the other. The heat of everyone’s gaze rendered Ethan evasive and unsure. He looked directly at the table in front of him, focusing on the schematic drawings and city plans covering the surface. “Why do you look like that?” Hadley asked, staring at Halson. He hesitantly met her eyes before answering. “My name is Halson,” he replied simply. A collective gasp echoed in the room. “You’re one of them?” someone asked in horror.
“They’re not the enemy,” Edred surprisingly said. “At least not all of them,” he amended. Apparently, his time spent with Doryn had proven beneficial to better understanding the MalJari people. Halen was a different type of leader and it showed in his citizens. Though they kept a certain level of control over humans, they were at least willing to let them live in relative peace.
“But how can we trust them?”
“What if they’re spies?”
“They shouldn’t be here!”
Ethan closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He was really getting sick of justifying himself and his relationships to those with obvious prejudices. Halson noticed Ethan’s change in body language. Under the table, Ethan’s fists clenched as he took one deep breath after another.
“Enough!” he screamed, eyes aglow and filled with rage and sorrow. Everyone stopped speaking and stared at him. “The real enemy is out there!” he yelled, pointing to the door. “It’s not in here and it’s not them!” He abruptly stood, causing the others to do the same. “MalStryker is dead and word of that will travel fast to the Commissioner.” He turned toward Doryn. “How much time do we have before he finds out?”
“Honestly? He probably already knows.”
The statement made Ethan’s skin crawl. It meant they had less time than he thought. If he was right, the Commissioner would gather troops to march on Daventry and wipe them out sooner rather than later. Or possibly, as Halen suggested, he could take over the city, turning it into a military state, controlling the humans by force and eventually manufacturing a whole new set of workers. Both outcomes were less than ideal.
“We don’t have time for this. Either you trust me and those around me or you don’t.” He pushed away from the table and paced the room. An unexpected hand stopped him. “Where is Godrik?” Ethan studied the concern on the man’s face before he said, “He’s dead. I’m sorry Hendrick.” His mentor nodded slowly, processing the information. Ethan met Abby’s eyes, an apology written deep within her face. Hadley and Caleb mirrored the sentiment.
“So, what do we do now?” Saia asked. Ethan glanced around the room, watching hopeful eyes stare back at him. That’s when he realized the shift in power. They were all now looking to Ethan for guidance and answers. But there were still so many questions left unanswered for him.
“We need to come up with a plan. If the Commissioner is going to attack us, then we need to be prepared.” The unease in the room was heavy and stifling. No one wanted a war, especially with an enemy they knew little about but the time had come and they could either fight or give up. Ethan wasn’t going to give up and he suspected the others didn’t want to either. He studied the drawings on the table, memorizing the details of one before moving to another. Halson and Doryn did the same, each having a similar ability to comprehend and remember complex data.
“How many Awakened are there?” Ethan asked Saia. “In Daventry, we have two hundred and eighty-six. Of that, one hundred and twenty work for the Commissioner.” Ethan cursed under his breath. If they wanted even half a chance at winning, they would need a lot more help than that. “How many soldiers does the Commissioner have?” Ethan asked Doryn. The MalJari’s expression was grim. “Only his own personal battalion? Ten thousand. If he used all of the MalJari soldiers in his region… over fifty.”
“Thousand?” Ethan looked over to see who asked that. It was Declan, the same man who helped him get to Kowend when he thought Halson had been kidnapped. Though, in that moment, he appeared more scared than anything.
“Ethan, we can’t fight that many MalJari,” Edred said. “We can’t even fight a quarter of that!”
“I know,” Ethan stated. “That’s why we need all the citizens to help.”
Saia stepped forward. “What are you saying?”
“We need to awaken all of the citizens. They have just as much to lose in this fight.”
“And how do we do that?” Hendrick asked. Ethan played with the chain around his neck where Godrik’s key hung. “I’m not sure, but I think I have an idea. Doryn and Edred, find locations on the city map for hiding as well as attack spots. Choose areas where we can funnel them in and attack from above or the sides.”
“Where are you going?” Saia asked. Ethan addressed the entire room. “Halson and I are going to find something… something that will help us.”
Halson met his eyes in mutual understanding. No one seemed to argue with him, so he took the silence as approval and turned back toward the stairs. “Ethan?” This time it was Abby who stopped him. She hugged him fiercely and whispered, “You’re coming back, right?” Ethan leaned back and kissed her temple. “I’ll always come back Abby.” She smiled and bid them farewell.
“Are you sure about this?” Halson asked as they neared the exit of the building. “I need to know Halson. I need the truth. And I have a feeling that Godrik was anticipating this. I think he may have left some clues on how to defeat the Commissioner.” Once outside, they ducked behind a large tree, checking the area for any remaining MalJari soldiers. Thankfully, the sun was setting, allowing them sufficient cover in the incoming darkness. When the coast was clear, they hurried along the sidewalks, remaining vigilant until they reached their destination. Ethan tilted his head toward the star-filled sky as he took in the spectacular sight of the South building. Almost as impressive as the North, the South surface was made of smooth glass with an intricate metal design that bounced off the light of the moon. He had never set foot inside of it before. Few had, since it was mainly known as a storage facility but Ethan had it on good authority that they kept more than old computers and lab equipment in there.
“So, are we just going to fight our way in?” Halson asked. The closer they got to the doors, the more nervous Ethan became. He was tired of fighting but he knew the battle was far from over. “If we have to,” he replied. Halson rolled his eyes but followed Ethan. The moment they stepped inside, a chill ran down Ethan’s spine. It was dark and eerily quiet. The lobby was empty as was the security station near the elevators. Cautiously, they advanced, keeping their eyes and ears alert.
“Something’s not right.” They crept closer to the elevators, snapping their heads from side to side, listening for a threat. The longer they waited, the more frazzled they became. “Did you hear that?” Halson whipped his head toward a stairwell located near the elevators. By now, their eyes were glowing, anticipating an attack. Ethan heard the noise again. “It’s coming from in there,” he stated, motioning at a door marked ELECTRICAL ROOM.
Halson reached for the handle before glancing at Ethan for approval. “Open it,” he whispered. Halson quickly flung the door ajar revealing nothing more than a large electrical panel. The state of the panel was the real cause for concern. It was shredded as if a large claw had sliced through it. Sparks twitched and shot out, sizzling on to the floor. At least it explained why the lights weren’t working. This would also mean that both the elevators and voice activated systems were out as well.
“What floor is it on?” Halson asked. Ethan g
rabbed the key from around his neck. “58th.” Halson gulped at that. “That’s a lot of stairs,” he complained. They both stared at the door leading to the stairwell before finally opening it. Their ascent slowed with each passing floor. While they were physically fit enough to race up each level, they still needed to maintain a sense of caution. The feeling gnawing at Ethan’s stomach had not dissipated. If anything, it was getting stronger.
When the door leading to the 58th floor was in sight, both boys stopped to catch their breaths and compose themselves. “Ready?” Halson asked. Ethan nodded before opening the door. The hallway was as dark as the lobby, illuminated by a few emergency lights overhead, though, some of them were flickering on and off. The ominous state of his surroundings had Ethan’s eyes darting in every direction, unsure and on alert. They travelled down the long corridor, checking each door before moving on. “How do we know which one it is?” Halson asked but before Ethan could answer, another voice entered the conversation.
“Allow me to save you the trouble,” a voice from behind them said. It wasn’t possible, he thought as he faced their unexpected guest. Ethan watched him die so how was he here now, talking to them?
“You’re dead,” Ethan’s voice betrayed him, trembling with uncertainty.
“No, no. Quite alive actually.”
He slithered closer, causing Halson and Ethan to back up. Ethan noticed his clothing was the same as earlier, only covered in dirt and dust. His pristinely tailored garments were now ruined, torn and shredded. He looked a mess. “Did you honestly think I would die so easily?” He smiled condescendingly. “I already told you Ethan, there is so much you don’t know. But I see we both share a similar affliction. We can’t seem to stay dead.”
Ethan persisted. “How are you alive? You were buried beneath the streets!” Preston pursed his lips. “You’re not the only human with tricks up their sleeve,” he snidely commented. “Now give me the key.” Ethan looked down at the small piece of metal in his hands before placing it back around his neck. “Why do you want it?” Ethan asked.
Preston huffed irritably. “You think you’re the only secret hidden in that storage room? You have no idea the things Godrik did over his lifetimes. He has valuable information and I’m here to collect it.”
“Then come and get it,” Ethan challenged.
Preston laughed darkly. Soon, he was flanked by half a dozen MalJari soldiers, all looking ready to fight. Halson and Ethan glanced at each other before eyeing their opponents. They took their defensive stances, gearing up for the attack. Then, a thought hit Ethan. He relaxed his shoulders and stood up straight, dropping his hands.
“Ethan?” Halson asked worriedly.
“Here,” he said, taking the key from his neck and holding it out.
“What are you doing?” Halson exclaimed in disbelief but Ethan shook his head. “I’m tired of fighting. Whatever is in that room, it isn’t worth dying.” He stepped forward slowly, holding out his hand.
Preston regarded him suspiciously. “You know this isn’t over, right?” Ethan nodded. He knew it was far from over but right now he needed to do this. “Let us go and you can have the key and whatever is inside the storage room.” After a long pause, Preston acknowledged the deal and opened his hand. Ethan swiftly deposited the key and grabbed Halson, moving him toward the stairwell.
Taking the steps two at time, Ethan hurried with Halson right behind him. They didn’t have much time. As soon as they were outside, Halson stopped, refusing to move. “Tell me what happened back there!” he demanded. Ethan sighed. “I’ll tell you everything. I promise. But first, we need to get back to the North building.” Halson’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Are you suffering from head trauma? Because I’m pretty sure you said we have to go back to the North building.”
“I did say that. Please Halson, trust me.”
Reluctantly, Halson complied and followed Ethan. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered almost too low for Ethan to hear. Almost. As soon as they reached the building, they entered, relieved to see a friend manning the security desk. When Saia had cleared out the North building earlier in the day, she made sure to staff it with fellow Awakened. “James,” Ethan said, tilting his head in greeting. The man waved back, allowing them to pass.
“So far so good,” Halson mumbled. Ethan glared at him but remained silent. They rode up the elevator to the 33rd floor. Ethan thought about the kind of person that Godrik was and what he would and wouldn’t do. He hoped he was right. Stepping out of the elevator, they marched over to Godrik’s office as fast as they could. Thankfully, the door was still broken from when Stryker’s body collided with it, making their entrance feasible. Once inside, they both looked around before something caught Ethan’s eye.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Halson asked. Ethan was now rummaging through Godrik’s drawers, feeling underneath the desk with his hands. “Would you say that Godrik was a smart man?” he asked, still searching. Halson crossed his arms in front of his chest before answering. “Yes, I suppose so. And?” By now, Ethan had moved to the cabinet behind the desk, placing his palms flat on the surface.
“Don’t you find it odd that a man as smart as Godrik would put his life’s work in a dingy storage room for anyone to find?” That made Halson perk up. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Ethan was right. Godrik wouldn’t be so obtuse about his work. He would have been secretive about its location. Halson was now equally searching, pushing and prodding everything in the office. Ethan was back at the desk, feeling the sides of the drawers. He was on the last one at the bottom when something caught on his sleeve. He pulled his arm, cursing, as a sharp edge cut his skin. “Ow!” he exclaimed. He examined his injury, a small gash near his elbow that would heal in no time.
Halson was at his side when they both peered into the drawer to see what his sweater caught on. Ethan fiddled with his fingers for a minute before the side of the drawer moved, revealing a tiny crevice. He reached inside and grabbed a long slim metal box. He inspected the box, turning it over and shaking it. There was definitely something inside. “How do we open it?” Halson asked. Ethan bit his lip and tilted his head in concentration. From the outside, the small container appeared perfectly smooth with no obvious top or bottom.
“Let’s take it with us,” Halson suggested. It was a good idea, considering Preston would have probably figured everything out by now. Chances were, he was irate and on his way back to the North building after realizing the key more than likely opened an actual storage room filled with old computers and lab equipment. Ethan would have loved to have seen his face as he comprehended the fact that the young boy had bested him once more. Ethan placed the container in his pocket and the pair hurried back to elevators.
When they got to the lobby, they heard Preston’s voice booming through the space, demanding to know if either Ethan or Halson had been there recently. For his part, James remained stone faced in his answer, not intimidated in the least. “I have not seen them sir, but I assure you that if I do, I will let you know immediately.”
Ethan would have believed him had it not been a total lie. They hid back behind a sculpture, watching as Preston and his guards boarded the elevator. When the coast was clear, they gave James a quick salute and ran out the door. They jogged most of the way back to the warehouse, playfully chasing each other. They had saved Godrik’s life’s work and needed some semblance of normal teenage behavior. It was when they reached the edge of the warehouse that Ethan stopped, holding Halson back by tugging on his arm. “What’s wrong?” Halson asked but Ethan didn’t answer. Instead he crowded Halson against the side of the building and crashed their lips together. It was mostly teeth and tongues as they searched each other’s mouths.
Ethan gripped Halson’s neck with both hands while the MalJari placed his hands around Ethan’s waist, possessively. Both were squeezing tightly, conveying an urgency that had gone unchecked for quite some time. With Eth
an almost dying and everything falling apart around them, it was only when they were together like this that life made sense. For now, they were alive. For now, they were safe.
CHAPTER 26
E than threw the metal box across the room in frustration. “I take it you haven’t opened it yet?” Abby ventured to guess. Ethan’s glare was steely but Abby was unnerved. She sat next to him, in a bed away from everyone else. “Have you tried-”
“Yes!”
“Okay, well, have you tried-”
“Yes!!”
Ethan ran his fingers through his hair, ready to pull it out any second. He had been trying to open the box for the last four hours but nothing he did worked. There were no buttons, no holes, nothing for him to pry open. There was only a perfectly smooth silver container.
He went over to the floor and picked the box up. No longer than four inches and no wider than a ruler, he checked it over once more. He knew he was missing something but his mind was literal mush at the moment. He needed a break, so he pocketed the box and motioned for Abby to follow him.
The tables near the front of the room were buzzing with life. Several of the Awakened had offered their expertise in various parts of the city to establish safe zones and potential attack points. He smiled when he saw Elora Mason talking animatedly about how her greenhouse could be used as an attack point. For his part, Ethan had taken rather well to the role of leader. It was almost natural for him and such a far cry from the shy introvert he used to be.
Elora pointed to blue prints of the main greenhouse and explained how, with some small tweaks, it could be made into a defensive weapon full of traps. “That sounds like something Caleb could help you with, right?” Ethan looked to his friend who appeared out of place and unsure of himself. Ethan knew how capable he was so giving him this assignment was easy. Caleb stood, walking over to Elora and slowly began to work on the schematics.
The farming equipment was far too heavy for the MalJari to move making them ideal to block certain routes into the city, diverting the soldiers. They would go where Ethan wanted them to go. “Doryn, you and Halson know MalJari attack strategies. Look at his map and mark where you would attack so we can safeguard those areas.” Halson and Doryn nodded and began marking the targets likely to be struck.
Awaken_Ethan Drake Chronicles Page 27
