Dead Silence

by K. G. Reuss

  “Wait. What? Why can’t, I mean won’t, they?” I narrowed my eyes at him as I sat forward, eager to hear what he had to say.

  “It seems a dangerous folly to go a place loaded with Specials. A place where the Conexus has its most elite soldiers guarding it, don’t you think?” he asked, smiling smugly at me.

  “What’s a Conexus?” I frowned.

  “Not what, who, but that’s information for another time. Right now, we have more important things to tend to. For instance, your medication. I’ll be halting them immediately. I suspect the next week will be a rough one for you. Just know I’ll do all I can to try to control it for you. And you’ll be on watch every second of every day until you leave here and are safely tucked away at Dementon.”

  “You can’t just take them away! I need them! They dull the voices—”

  “You won’t be needing them on the Dementon grounds,” Dr. Brighton stated firmly. “I already told you, none of that will bother you there. You have my word.”

  “How can I trust you? You’re moonlighting as a doctor when you’re really Professor X. Plus, if you knew I was a Special, why didn’t you help me sooner? Why did you let me suffer?”

  “We find our strengths in our suffering. Consider it your first test. It will be one of many.” He smiled serenely and got to his feet. “This new world is a strange one. It’s different. You’ll see things that will blow your mind. You’ll learn things you never thought possible. And you’ll become something extraordinary, if you take the right paths. You’re a lucky one—your path is already set for you. You’re meant for more than the others at Dementon. I hope you’re ready for it. We’re counting on you.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  A week later, I was standing in the entranceway to Rolling Thunder Psychiatric Facility, the place where I’d been locked up. The past week had been a nightmare, truly. The dead plagued me. They never came into my room, but they whispered through the walls. The sounds of their distressed voices sent shivers down my spine. Ever since my hanging stunt, they had backed off a bit. I was grateful, yet still terrified. I was pulled from my thoughts of despair as my mom and Nina entered through the heavy oak front doors.

  “Sweetie,” my mom greeted me, rushing up with tears in her eyes. She flung her arms around me and held me tightly as we rocked back and forth. “How are you?”

  “Better,” I lied. I’d spent the night cowering in the corner of my bedroom while the shouts from other patients echoed around me. Sometimes I couldn’t tell if the shouts were from other patients or the dead, which made it more unnerving.

  “You look exhausted,” she continued, pulling away and staring at me. “But still so beautiful. Dr. Brighton says you’re getting better too and that Dementon will be a good place for you. You know I wouldn’t send you there if I had another choice—”

  “Mom, I know. It’s OK. I-I need to go. I need the help they offer.” I gave her a forced smile. Truth be told, I was eager to check the place out. Not because I wanted the help, but because I was promised the voices and sightings would end. That was enough for me to go. I wasn’t happy that I had to be somewhere else to do it, but I’d deal with it. And if I got answers as well, then I guess it wasn’t a total loss.

  “Well, I don’t want you to hate me for it. I’ve been worried sick.”

  “I don’t hate you, Mom,” I scoffed. She was quiet for a minute, her eyes sad as she gazed at me. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, mija.” She sniffled and wiped at her eyes before she seemed to collect herself. “I need to check in.” She cleared her throat, giving my hand a squeeze. “I’ll be right back, OK?”

  I gave her a reassuring nod and a weak smile. She accepted it and walked to the front desk to check in.

  “Hey,” Nina said softly, giving me a small smile.

  “Hey,” I answered awkwardly, shoving my fidgeting hands in my pockets. The last time we’d seen each other I’d been climbing into the car with Dylan. I hadn’t spoken to her since. I figured she was mad at me. And disappointed. Hell, I was disappointed with me. I’d been a pain.

  “I’ve been worried about you. Everyone has been. Even Dylan,” Nina said, giving me a tight hug.

  “Really? Dylan?” I frowned. I figured he’d be terrified considering what Shadow had done to him that night.

  “Yeah,” Nina nodded, pulling away from me. “He said you ran out of his house after freaking out. He said you two got into a fight and you left. He’s the one who called me to see if I’d seen you. But then I heard a-about Gleeman’s…” She stopped talking and bit her bottom lip. “Are you going to be OK, Ever? I’m really worried.”

  “Nina, I’m going to be better than OK. I already feel myself getting there.” I gave her my best reassuring smile. It was a damn lie. I’d basically died a week ago. Things were only getting weirder.

  “OK,” she said through a watery smile, her lips trembling as she tried not to let her tears fall.

  “And Dylan—he didn’t say anything… weird? About that night?” I asked hesitantly. “He seemed OK?”

  “He seemed concerned about you. He just said you two were making out and that he wanted to go further but you didn’t. Then he said you guys got into an argument and you left. He seems OK other than he’s worried about you.” She sniffled and wiped at her eyes quickly.

  “Weird,” I muttered, scratching my head. Maybe I’d actually hallucinated the whole thing. Deep down, I knew something else was at play. Something I wanted to figure out. I couldn’t keep trying to talk myself into thinking everything was a delusion. Dr. Brighton told me it was real. I knew it was, too. It was just a hard pill to swallow.

  “How has Dr. Brighton been for you here?” my mom asked coming back to my side after checking in. “It seems like a really great place.” She rubbed her hands together and looked around.

  “It’s-it’s been bearable,” I answered, grimacing a little as I tried to block out the memories of the screams still echoing in my head. Every place I went was like that, though. I couldn’t escape them.

  “I’m so sorry, baby,” she sniffled, hugging me again. “Once we get things sorted, you can come back home. It won’t be permanent.”

  “OK,” I said tightly. I was fairly certain it wasn’t going to get better. I liked her optimism, though.

  “I brought your favorite outfits, and I even picked out a few new things for you. Dr. Brighton says you won’t be able to leave or have visitors for the first few weeks as you get situated there. And you don’t get your phone. He said there’s a place to make calls, though.”

  “Great,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “I put some stationary in your suitcase so you can write us,” Nina added brightly. “And a journal in case you want to write things down to clear your head or vent. Oh, and I put in a party outfit, a few dresses, and your favorite heels.” She ticked off items on her fingers. “And your makeup and some pictures, so you don’t forget about us!”

  “Thanks,” I smiled appreciatively at her.

  “I put Mr. Boggles in,” my mom added.

  “Elena, hello,” Dr. Brighton emerged from somewhere and shook my mom’s hand halting our conversation. “How are you?”

  “Great, given the circumstances,” she smiled sadly at him. “I brought Ever some of her stuff.”

  “Ah, wonderful!” He returned her smile with one of his own. “She won’t need much. She’ll be given a uniform once she’s at Dementon.”

  “Oh,” my mom seemed surprised at the news. “That’s a… really good thing.”

  “It is,” Dr. Brighton nodded, still smiling. “In fact, her ride should be arriving shortly to take her there.”

  “Will you be accompanying her?”

  “I won’t, but rest assured, she’ll be in perfectly good hands. Dementon likes to send its best to retrieve the new arrivals.”

  “So-so other students will be caring for her?” My mom didn’t look like she liked the idea of other “delinquents” taking her cra
zy daughter to her new school.

  “They’re a bit more than just students. I assure you. She’ll be in very capable hands. I wouldn’t allow her to go, if I wasn’t certain she’d be safe.”

  “I just worry—”

  “I’d expect nothing less,” Dr. Brighton nodded solemnly. “It’s what makes you such a good parent. I’ll be in contact with you often. You have my number, and you’ll have the number to reach Ever should you need to. I promise all will be well.”

  “OK,” my mom breathed out nervously.

  “Hey,” Nina motioned for me to step away with her for a second. I glanced at my mom. She was still voicing her concerns to Dr. Brighton. I moved over to the large picture windows with Nina.

  “What’s up?”

  “Be safe, Ever. I’ve been worried sick about you. After you left with Dylan that night I thought I was going to die. Did something else happen with you two? I mean, you tried drinking yourself to death and Dylan wasn’t even with you.”

  “Nothing happened,” I mumbled. “He already told you. We were messing around, I freaked out and left. We were close to sealing the deal, you know? Then, I don’t know… Things got weird. I-I had to go. End of story.” I figured it was important to stick to whatever story he’d told her. No sense in freaking her out with my version of the events, since they wouldn’t match Dylan’s, and I’d just come off looking crazier.

  “He’s been worried about you, Ever,” she squeezed my hand. “I’m not a fan of him, but he wanted me to tell you something. He said he’s sorry and hopes that you two can talk once you’re feeling better.” She shrugged before continuing, “I don’t know. He’s back with Casey, but you know how he is.”

  “I sure do,” I snorted, rolling my eyes. Well, so much for him being traumatized.

  “Ever,” Dr. Brighton called out, “it’s time to go. Your ride is here.”

  I looked out the window as a sleek black SUV with tinted windows pulled up under the awning. I swallowed hard and looked at Nina. This was it.

  No turning back.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  My mouth opened in an O of surprised as the guy from the diner walked into the entryway, looking just as breathtaking as he’d been the last time I’d seen him.

  “Ever, I’d like you to meet Eric Craft and Damien Wick. They’re some of our elite students,” Dr. Brighton nodded to the two large, muscle-bound guys that stopped and stood beside him. They both stood well over six feet tall and were dressed in all black. It was clear they were in their school uniforms. Very slick uniforms. Black blazers, black shirts, black ties, black pants, black shoes. I bet even their socks were black. A red shield with a golden D was embellished on the left breasts of their jackets.

  “Hello, Ever,” Eric greeted me with a curt nod as if we’d never met before. He was a beautiful creature. His shock of blond hair fell past his ears in a mess, and his blue eyes shone brightly. The guy was a heartbreaker, that was for sure. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

  I gave him a shaky smile, still trying to figure out what was going on. Why had he been at the diner that day? This whole thing screamed “beware!” in bright neon lights.

  “Ever, I’m Damien,” the other guy said, holding his hand out for me to shake. His voice was deep and stern making me think he’d probably slap the sarcasm right out of me if I stepped too far out of line. He was beautiful too. Damien’s hair was a deep shade of brown, and his eyes matched. Both men looked like they could take on an entire football team on their own.

  “Wow, lucky,” Nina whispered from beside me. Eric’s lips quirked up into a small smile, but it happened so fast I wasn’t even sure if I’d really seen it.

  I shook Damien’s hand, and he winced before pulling it away quickly. As he flexed his fingers, he cast a quick look to Eric who wore a tight smile on his face. They seemed to be communicating with one another without speaking. Were they telepaths or something? I didn’t even know what sorts of Specials attended Dementon. I’d been so absorbed in my own problems that I’d failed to inquire what I was getting into.

  “Do you have all your stuff?” Eric asked.

  “Um, yeah. It’s right here,” I nodded to the stack of suitcases and backpack. Damien grabbed two of the suitcases and took them outside while Eric grabbed the remaining ones.

  “Backpack?” he nodded to my bag slung over my shoulder.

  “Um, I can carry it.”

  “Backpack,” he said it this time as a demand. I hastily took it off and handed it to him. He went out the doors, and we followed.

  “Ever, Eric and Damien are some of the best Dementon has to offer. You’ll learn a lot with them. Listen to what they say and don’t try to do anything… funny. I assure you it would be unwise.” Dr. Brighton gave me a look that said he meant business. If these guys’ sheer sizes didn’t make them intimidating, then the fact that they had some weird hidden powers made them terrifying. And I’d already seen some of what Eric was capable of.

  “Dr. Brighton?” I asked softly, biting my bottom lip as I peered past him, keeping my eyes on the guys as they loaded my luggage into the back of the SUV.

  “Yes?” he leaned down to hear me.

  “I… When will I see you? What-what if I need help?”

  “I suggest you make some friends, Ever. You’re going to need to pick a faction eventually. Eric and Damien will explain it to you on the way. These guys are the exception to all the rules, so trust them. Even if their requests seem strange. They know what they’re doing. I’ll be around. It’s my job, after all.”

  I nodded, a frown carved deeply onto my face as I cast a look to where Damien and Eric now stood, both gazing intently at me.

  “Bye, sweetie,” my mom pulled me out of my thoughts and brought me in for a tight hug. “I love you so much. Please, call me if you need anything.”

  “I will, Mom,” I sniffled. “I love you, too.”

  After a lengthy embrace, I turned to Nina and hugged her.

  “Be good. Come back to us better, Ever. We have prom in the spring, and we have to go shopping.” She hugged me tightly.

  “I will.” I pulled away and wiped at my eyes.

  “Come on.” Eric cleared his throat, opening the door to the SUV. Damien was already in the driver’s seat.

  I cast one last look at my mom, Nina, and Dr. Brighton before clambering onto the cool leather seat in the back of the SUV. Eric climbed in behind me and closed the door.

  “Ready?” he asked, fixing his blue eyes on me.

  “If I have to be,” I murmured.

  “You do. Damien, we’re ready. Take us home.”

  I swallowed hard as the crunch of gravel echoed in my ears, signaling our departure. I turned to look out the back window as my mom and Nina waved at me. I didn’t turn to face forward until they were tiny dark specks in the distance.

  “Scared?” Eric’s strong voice cut through my morose thoughts.

  “Should I be?” I asked, meeting his blue eyes.

  “Only if you know what’s good for you,” he replied smoothly, settling back into his leather seat.

  Scared wasn’t a word I’d use to describe my feelings. I was flat-out terrified.

  To Be Continued. . .

  Broken Shadow Book 2 in the Everlasting Chronicles

  You heard Ever's story in Dead Silence, but you don't have the whole story. Now it's time for mine. She knows me but not really. She doesn't know my name. I've done a lot for her over the years to keep her safe. But to her I'm just Shadow.

  Excerpt from Broken Shadow (subject to edits and changes)

  My mom said that we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. That they were gone, leaving behind only their memories. And they had no way to defend themselves against harsh words or brutal truths. She believed that what was done was done, and we should let them rest in peace.

  But Mom didn’t know what I knew. Years ago, I flung her beliefs and expectations on that topic out of the highest window from the tallest tower in the known world.
The moment the beautiful, green-eyed, raven haired, ivory skin angel entered my life, I learned the truth about the dead. I didn’t know it at the time, didn’t know that she was going to change my world forever. How could I? I was four and she was only three.

  One moment I was in my room, lying in bed after Mom had tucked me in, and the next there was a terrible pull in my gut, taking me from my room and leaving me frightened in a dark place where I could hear growls, snarls, and voices hissing through the surrounding blackness.

  It was my time in shadow. My first time through the darkest places of the Veil.

  I cried. I remember that. I didn’t know where I was or why I was there. Voices were all around me. Claws scraped my skin. I ran. I ran as far and as fast as my little legs could take me.

  Suddenly, there was a light. A beautiful, promising light. A bright rectangle through an opening. As I ran closer, I could make out the form of a girl sitting on the floor of a room. Her blanket was pulled tightly around her as she rocked back and forth. I burst into the light. The claws scratched my legs, arms, and neck. I tumbled into the girl’s bedroom through her closet door.

  She didn’t pay any attention to me. Confused about why she wasn’t seeing me, I looked down and found that I was as black as night, having turned into a shadow myself. My heart hammered like mad in my chest. While I was afraid for myself, I was even more afraid for her. She continued to rock, her green eyes wavering as she stared at her bedroom door. Still frightened about what had just happened to me, and how I’d gotten there, I backed into the corner to watch her. I wanted to talk to her, but couldn’t. I didn’t have the words to say. Besides she already looked frightened enough. Yelling came from somewhere else in the house. The screams got louder. She rocked faster as heavy footsteps thudded down the hall.