Touched by Darkness (Young Creator Trilogy)

by Christiane Shoenhair

  experience pain and hurt? You know that both of them are strong, independent women and they

  will not just adhere to the rules and live the lifestyle that Haven expects anymore. Is that what

  you want for them? Is it,Keagan?” My voice gets stronger and stronger with every word, and I

  know that I have made my point when the knife falls from my throat. “Go stand over by the trail

  and watch my back. I trust you with my life.” I meet Keagan’s gaze as I instruct him, letting him

  know how serious I’m. He does what I asked him and walks over to the only area that someone

  could access the cliff from.

  I know that this is probably going to take more of my energy than fighting Allecto and

  Haddie, but I decide that I will do whatever it takes to rescue the people I have come to care so

  much about. First things first; I close my eyes and imagine all of the captured rebels unbound,

  with weapons in hand. It happens just as I see it in my head, and there are now a bunch of

  surprised Guardians held at sword point by rebels that were prepared to expect anything. Sadly,

  the surprise only lasts momentarily and all too soon the training that the Guardians have been

  instilled with comes to the surface. Fighting breaks out everywhere, and I see that even though

  the rebels are trying and some are doing really well most of them are just not as well trained as

  the Guardians. So I do what I know how to do well; I change things around a bit. Terreca, the young women that I had just talked to earlier today, is holding her own against Eddie, but I can see the strain on her face. I decide to change his sword into a rat, which I really think is the perfect animal for him. I start changing the Guardian’s weapons into flowers, and I can tell that

  the tide is turning as more and more of them lift their arms up in defeat.

  “Let me by, Keagan. I have to put an end to her! She always gets in the way of what I

  want.” I recognize Porsche’s voice, but I’m going to have to put my trust in Keagan. I continue

  changing things and creating obstacles to help make it an even fight. I notice that my mom and

  Helen are both fighting fierce-looking Guardians. My mother can barely hold hers off, so I

  change the sword into a banana just like the other day during the demonstration. I want her to

  know that I’m here for her and have her back. However, the big Guardian doesn’t stop his assault

  on her; he grabs her and lifts her into the air, throwing her against the carved walls of the Center.

  She crumbles to the ground, but quickly gets back up. Picking up her weapon, she once again

  faces the giant with the bulging muscles.

  He rushes toward her, but just before he reaches my mother I see Helen swing a huge pot,

  which connects with his head and knocks him right out. I’m so relieved that they are both all

  right. Mymother’s fight had completely distracted me from everything else that had been going

  on. I hear fighting behind me, and glancing over my shoulder I see that Keagan is fighting

  Porsche, protecting my back. When I return my concentration to the Center, I notice that more

  Guardians have appeared and are driving the rebels back. I see a few running for their life, while

  others are receiving injuries.

  I wish I had Tisiphone here to support me; I wonder what she would do. There is too

  much going on! Every time I think that I have gotten things under control, I notice someone in

  trouble. I scan the battlefield below, turning weapons into bananas, but the problem is that the

  Guardians are adjusting and using hand-to-hand combat. The rebels, who hadn’t been told to

  expect this and are far less skilled than the Guardians, are unable to adjust. Seeing some of them

  throw down their weapons, I shake my head. Thankfully, Helen is not one of those that has

  discarded her weapon and she is really holding her own. I wonder why she is not using her

  powers, since she is just like me. I guess she might not know how to access her powers; I

  remember how difficult it was for me to figure it out.

  I definitely could have used them when I was kidnapped and brought to Haven, but

  instead of easily accessing them as I do now they would just randomly show up. Luckily, they saved me a few times. I will have to talk to Tisiphone when this is over and see if we can help Helen access her powers. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it before, we could definitely use someone else on our side with powers. Helen is now fighting two guys at the same time, and I’m impressed with her skill with the sword. She must have been training with Markus, because she is pulling off some moves that I have only seen on TV. A tall, red-haired Guardian is attacking from the right, and to miss his blow she does some sort of fancy flip off the wall. Kicking the Guardian in the back of the head with a roundhouse kick, he falls to the ground, knocked out. The second Guardian that has been fighting Helen lands a blow to her side; I guess he is one of those whose weapon I turned. She staggers back and falls, putting a hand to her side, and I think

  he really hurt her. She gets to her feet and I cheer inside for her. I wish I knew how to help her. “Why are you defending her,Keagan?” I hear Porsche ask.

  “I’m not! This is for my sister and mother. It feels like it’s the right thing to do, and I’m

  trusting my instincts.” I’m happy to hear Keagan say this. It means that the guy I fell for is still

  somewhere in there.

  “You are going against everything that our kind believe in, and for what… her? I thought

  you cared about me.” She is so manipulative, trying to make this personal versus what it is truly

  about. While listening to their conversation, I continue helping the rebels by setting up obstacles

  that hinder the guardians from using all of their skills.

  “Porsche, I do care about you, you’re my girlfriend. I don’t have any feelings toward the

  Young Creator, and I’ve told you this multiple times. This is not about her,it’s about making

  sure that everyone gets treated the same.I don’t want my mother or sister to have to go through

  what Young Creators go through, and I need to stand with my family. But that doesn’t change

  how I feel about you, Porsche. I care about you.”

  His words completely crush me. I can’t believe that he just called her his girlfriend. I

  know that I saw them kissing, but hearing those words come from his mouth are like all the air

  just got sucked from my lungs. I’m hyperventilating and having a hard time focusing on the

  battle below. Turning around I find Porsche, the girl who is always super confident and makes it

  her life’s mission to dress as slutty as possible, looking vulnerable. Evidentlyshe’s hurt because

  Keagan chose to go against her. When you strip away all of the slutty clothes and the

  hatefulness, Porsche is actually quite beautiful. I can’t help but wonder if this is who she is when

  with Keagan. How can I compare to her? Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears and the sword that I had noticed poised and ready to attack is now held loosely at her side. She appears crushed, defeated. I don’t trust her; I feel like she is doing this to get underKeagan’s skin and is going to

  attack him at any minute.

  “Keagan,don’t trust her!She’s making you let your guard down.” Keagan glances my

  way when I speak, and in that moment Porsche flings herself at Keagan, putting him in a

  headlock. She is attached to his back and I can see that Keagan’s face is turning purple from the

  loss of air. He is trying to remove her from his back by pulling her arm, but with little success. I

  don’t think he wants to hurt her, and
that is what eventually causes him to black out. I simply

  stand there, and it comes to me that I should have done something to help him, but I was too

  shocked at the strength and conniving way that Porsche has about her.

  Suddenly, Porsche raises her sword and starts running toward me. I imagine her in the

  grassy area that Aunt Tisi and I always practice, and right before my eyes she starts disappearing.

  I will deal with her another time. I’m done with this and don’t feel like playing small ball

  anymore;it’s time for some real magic.

  I take in the scene below me and start picturing it as I want it. I visualize a large

  containment area with bars running the entire front of the building and only one door leading out.

  I then imagine all of the Guardians inside, and the keys that open the building in Helen’s hands. I

  have to close my eyes because it’s taking a lot of energy and I start feeling tired. I know that I

  can’t do a whole lot more. I’m just done, butI don’t want anybody hurt. I don’t know why we

  didn’t do this to begin with,but sometimes I guess we just don’t think of using our powers to the

  full extent. When I open my eyes, I see that it is just as I wanted it. All of the Guardians are in

  the containment building and the rebels are cheering. Helen turns and looks in my direction,

  lifting her sword in the air in acknowledgment. In the next instant, all of the rebels are turning to

  me, raising their swords and cheering me on. I’m glad that it’s all over and no one got seriously

  hurt. Taking a deep breath, I wave to everyone before turning to check on Keagan.

  Chapter 7 Keagan I seriously can’t believe that she knocked me out cold. I always thought the only thing Porsche has going for her is that she’s hot, but something about her putting me in a head lock makes me want her bad. I love a girl with a fighting spirit who goes after what she wants and sticks to her guns. I can’t hate on that. After everything that has happened,I’m not sure if Porsche and I are gonna be together any time soon, though. Eventually it will happen; girls always throw themselves at me. With Porsche, I don’t really mind. I’m glad I came up with the plan to bring her here.I needed to prove that I wasn’t with the Young Creator, like everyone was saying.

  My head is pounding, and as I slowly get up, vertigo sets in. The room starts spinning, and I squeeze my eyes shut tight. Crap, this really sucks. Where a moment ago I was all about Porsche, now I’m cursing her name. I stillcan’t believe the mess I’ve found myself in. I was just fine with how things were, and then everything had to go ahead and completely come unhinged. I like the structure and rules that the Guardians live by; you always know what’s expected. There are never any surprises. Even when you mess up, you already know that you did because you fell short of the expectations. You take the punishment andmake sure you don’t ever make the same mistake again.It’s simple, straightforward.

  Now this situation that I have found myself in, I have no frickin ’ idea where right and wrong fall. I keep finding myself in scenarios where everything that I have known and believed in my entire life gets challenged.

  I don’t really understand myself sometimes . Just when I think I have everything figured out and it’s starting to make sense, I run into another obstacle, which completely changes my outlook. I really do admire Porsche and how she is sticking with what she knows and believes in. As far as things go right now,I’m not so sure about everything that we have done and are doing in Haven. Maybe it is time for change. I guess that is why I made the decision I did. When that Young Creator asked me if I really wanted to see Riley and my mom go through torture and the hardship that happens to break a Young Creator,I knew I just didn’t have the heart to see those I love put through something like that. Maybe that makes me weak, but I’m going to stick with it. I seriously just want things to chill.

  I slowly open my eyes and am relieved to notice that the tent has stopped spinning, so I jump up, which I instantly regret. I’m just happy that none of the guys in my training class are here to see what a pansyI’m being right now. Man up, Keagan, I tell myself. I start stretching my sore muscles and am relieved to feel some of the tension leave my body. This is something that I can control, and I like being in control. I like things neat and orderly; each and every person has their place, their mission, and knows what they are responsible. One well-oiled machine.

  I run my hands over my recently cropped hair, feeling the large lump that must be causing me all of my discomfort. I pull on a shirt sinceI’m only in a pair of loose shorts. Someone must have changed me out of my gear. I wonder if it was that hot little Creator, Trish. Stop it, Keagan, you can’t think of her like that. However,it’s hard not to. Ever since I first laid eyes on her, when she was leaning over me, there’s an attraction and pull that draws me to her. I can’t explain it and it annoys the crap out of me. Like I said, I like things simple, organized.

  I always know where I’m standing with Porsche, but this chickI just don’t know. I would never tell anyone this, especially not any of the guys, but I feel drawn to Trish, which I know is completely wrong. Our kinds are not meant to be together and it is completely unnatural. We were taught that in one of our first classes, and it has been ingrained in us ever since. That is why this is all so difficult. I know that I’m probably sending Trish mixed signals, but there is the side of me that warns against Trish, and then there is the side that wants to be close to her.I’ve seen how my parents were treated at Haven based on my dad’s choice to be with my Mom. I have always had to work harder to overcome the shadow that being their kid cast on me. It’s too much to think and worry about; all I really need to do right now is find my family. I just want to make sure that they are doing well.

  Opening the flap on the tent, I step into bright sunshine. I must have been out for a while, because last I remember I was fighting Porsche when the sun was setting, with barely any daylight left. Wounded walk all over the place, and I’m surprised to find a lot of faces I’m familiar with from Haven. I’m stunned at how many Haven residents chose to leave. Apparently this proves what the rebels have been trying to make me comprehend. It seems that most of the residents of Haven that weren’t guardians didn’t enjoy life there. Even though life was hard there, I always loved the close bond that all of the families had. Perhaps instead of the bonds forming over the common goal of keeping the Young Creators from the path of darkness, maybe it was to survive the demanding life that everyone in Haven lived every day.

  I receive several nods from people I recognize. Suddenly, Mrs. Dawson, our widowed next door neighbor from Haven, approaches me. “Keagan,I’m so happy to see you here. I was overjoyed when I heard that you had left to join the rebels because you lost your heart to that darling Young Creator. I like her!” Before I can even come up with a response, she gives me a hug and a quick peck on the cheek, leaving me stunned. Mrs. Dawson has never been outgoing or even remotely nice, instead always keeping to herself unless my mom went for a visit. Now I see her mingling and talking to everyone around her. I stand where she left me, the constant talk of how I lost my heart to the Young Creator really beginning to bother me. The first memory I have of her is when I opened my eyes and saw her hovering above me, which is really weird.

  I continue on, wanting to make it to Maximus as soon as I can. I know he is probably angry that I betrayed them … unless they don’t know. I wonder if Trish told them about the choice I made. There was a point during our conversation where I came to the conclusion that I had to decide between family or the Guardians; I could not have both. Now that I see the result of the rebel invasion, I have to say I feel like I ultimately made the right choice. It seems like everyone is happy and laughing, with a newfound sense of freedom.

  Reaching the tent, I enter it. Not surprisingly, all of the main players are present, including Maximus, the Fury, Tisiphone, Trish’s mom, and my parents.
I also notice Eddie and Porsche standing off in a corner, looking at the floor. Shit, they must know our involvement! I have to say,I’m surprised to see them here. I would have thought they would of hightail it outta here. All eyes turn to me, and a final person steps out of the shadows.It’s Trish, the Young Creator. Almost instantly, flashes of color go off in my head and pictures of her start taking shape. I see her smiling at something while dressed in workout clothes. This keeps happening to me, and it’s pretty annoying because Ican’t place the pictures I keep seeing. I focus on Porsche and give her a smile; I want to let Trish know Porsche and I are dating, and communicate to Porsche that I understand her decision.

  She’s a Guardian and was doing her duty; I don’t hold it against her. Trish’s reaction is clearly written on her face. At my snub, she flushes and looks away, clearly uncomfortable and probably embarrassed. Porsche, on the other hand, gives me the cold shoulder. I’m definitely going to have to make it up to her. I’m not done with her; I still need her.

  I need her to keep me distracted from Trish, who keeps popping into my head. There ’s this pull and craving for her that I don’t understand. Regardless,I don’t want it;it’s not right. Guardians need to be with others like them. It’s not only embarrassing, but also shameful to stray from the tradition that is so deeply engrained in us. I still consider myself a warrior, and even though I may have changed some of my views about how Young Creators and the women of Haven get treated, thatdoesn’t mean I’m not a Guardian at heart with a strong belief system. I know what’s right and what’s wrong. Being with Trish would be wrong.I don’t have to hear it from one of my fellow warriors; I feel it deep down in my bones that it is just not supposed to be.

  Taking in the expressions on everyone’s face, I know that this is some serious shit and I’ve gotta deal with the consequences of my actions. Mom smiles at me supportively and it makes my shoulders relax a little, knowing that regardless of everything she will always have my back and still believes in me. I’m somewhat surprised at my thought. I have always looked at Mom as just the caretaker of the family—that was her job—but with the new role she has taken on, I have found a new respect for her. Mom is the first to speak.