I considered that for a second. "Technology does have a tendency to make people lazy." I remembered how I'd begged Kado to buy equipment that would make our lives easier. He always refused, insisting we wash our clothes and dishes by hand instead of using a machine.
"That could have something to do with it. Shadow stalkers can't afford to be lazy."
*****
After a brief debate, we settled on a route. Starting the climb was tricky. I placed my feet on either side of the gap and stood. The top of the side vents came to just below my hips, so I pressed my hands to the side walls as hard as I could and lifted my body so I could wedge my feet below me—one in front and one in back. Once I was stable, I used the strength in my legs to push myself up, then used my hands to lock myself in position as I repeated the process, working my way up the vent.
When Shai winced, I was reminded of her injuries and wondered if I should have let her go first. It wasn’t that I doubted her ability to climb, but my arms were already shaking with the effort. I could only imagine how hers felt. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just sore."
Thankfully my legs were doing most of the work. The maltreatment and lack of proper diet made me weaker, so I became clumsier the higher we climbed and exhaustion set in. I didn’t stop. I could only hope we would reach the next junction before my arms gave out completely. Both Shai and I were making too much noise, heightening the risk of discovery. But we made it without incident.
I climbed into the side vent. "In here," I whispered when Shai reached me. She had been further behind than I realized.
"How much farther do you think we have to go?" She asked, her breath coming in gasps.
"It can't be too much farther. The building is only five floors, so we're likely on the fourth by now if these vents run along each floor."
Shai's stomach answered with a growl.
"We'd have more energy for climbing if we had some decent food in our bellies," I said. "I could travel through the shadow world and get us something to eat."
"I don't think any of the food in this place qualifies as decent," Shai said with a snort.
"Actually, I have someplace else in mind. I'll be right back."
Chapter 3
The last time I had been in this particular cave on Luten Isle my friends, Deakan and Jade, and I had been fleeing the Galvadi. It was the night they began the invasion, which led to the discovery of my true identity, altering my life forever. It seemed years had passed since that night though I knew it had only been months. Now I was here again, still on the run. I comforted myself with the fact that I had an advantage this time. As long as I was careful, I could use the shadow world to go anywhere I needed to get supplies. I felt around for one of the candles and lit it. The cave looked exactly as we'd left it. My friends' sleeping bags were still laid out, with their backpacks sitting on top.
I could have chosen any of the shelters Kado had set up for me, but this was where I had left my favorite backpack. What better time to collect it? It was Jade's backpack I reached for first though. I hugged it to my body, hoping she was okay, even though I knew where she was. I had experienced the cleansing first-hand, so I was painfully aware of how my friend was suffering. Jade was by no means weak, but in addition to the cleansing, she had lost all her family and friends. She would not withstand the torture for long. It was likely she had already been broken and was one of them now.
Tears stung my eyes, but I wiped them away. I didn't have time to dwell on all I had lost. Shai was waiting for me, and not exactly in the safest of circumstances. I set Jade's backpack next to Deakan's—as though it might somehow give her strength—and grabbed mine. I dumped the contents on the floor, sifting through them. I repacked the blanket and a change of clothes, then I went through Jade's bag for a change of clothes for Shai as well. They were about the same size, which meant they would fit. Nadiria was warm this time of year, but we would need something warmer on Appolia. I thought briefly of shoes, wishing I had time to retrieve those as well. Traveling through the forests would be treacherous with bare feet. It would certainly slow us down.
When I found an adequate substitute, I stuffed it into my backpack then headed for the crates at the back of the cave. It was where Kado stored the ration packs. Though they weren't the most nutritious thing to eat, they would certainly give us the energy we needed to climb the vent, not to mention the running we would do once we were free. I stuffed the backpack as full as I could, grabbing a first aid pack at the last minute. We were supposed to be meeting Kado in two days, but who knew what would happen before then. It was unlikely we would have the time to hunt for food and, though I could return for more rations, I didn’t want to leave Shai alone again if I could help it. With the recinder around her neck she was completely vulnerable.
*****
When I peered into the vent from the shadow world, I could see everything as though it had its own soft glow, including the dust particles, which surrounded Shai and showing me where she was. I couldn't see her through the shadow world because of the recinder. The moment I returned to the physical world, everything went black once more. I put my hand on her arm, cringing at her startled gasp. I hadn’t meant to frighten her.
"What took you so long?" she asked, her tone reproachful.
I wasn't sure if she was upset because of the wait or the scare. "I've only been gone about five minutes."
"It felt more like an hour."
Her words gave me pause. It reminded me of Kado’s warning. He once told me that sometimes, a few minutes in the shadow world, translated to hours or even days in the physical world. It happened until we learned to control our arrival time between both worlds. I would need to be careful about traveling through the shadow world until we were safe. If I judged it wrong, and days passed, Shai could be captured or killed in my absence.
"I found some food." I placed one of the ration packs in her lap, hoping the prospect of food would placate her. "They're just military rations, but it's better than the food they give us here."
As I pulled out my ration pack, I realized, while the vents weren't exactly small, there was no way I could climb noiselessly wearing the backpack. I had no choice but to leave it behind and come back for it once we were well away from the city. Only then would it be relatively safe for me to leave Shai.
We rested for a while after we ate, careful not to stall too long. The guides and troopers were no doubt scouring the building for us. It wouldn’t take them long to check the vents when they ran out of other options. Shai led the way this time. The climb seemed easier on a full stomach. We had more energy, and we both felt less winded when we reached the next junction.
As Shai climbed into the side vent, I felt a slight breeze from above. At first, I thought it was caused by her movement, but then I felt it again. I squinted, my gaze on the highest point of the vent where I thought I saw a pinprick of light drifting through. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or light from the two moons.
"I think the vent leads all the way to the roof," I whispered, as I joined Shai in the side vent.
"I was thinking the same thing."
We rested for a few minutes in silence, conserving our energy. On the next climb, I took the lead again. The anticipation of reaching our goal made me climb faster than was probably safe. The vent curved and expanded at the top, leaving enough room for Shai to climb up next to me. We had been right about the roof, except there was a fan blocking our way. Although it wasn't running, and even if we managed to get the grate off, it seemed unlikely we would fit between the blades. There was also the added risk that the fan might activate, especially if it was on a timer.
"What do you think?" I asked Shai as quietly as possible. I couldn’t be sure there weren’t any troopers guarding the roof.
"I think we'll have to find another way," she said.
I nodded. "I'll go first."
*****
Once we made it back to the vent on the fifth floor, we began searching throu
gh the grate of each room we passed. Most were dark, so I had to check through the shadow world to discover what lay on the other side. Entering one of the cells wasn’t an option. We had to find a corridor or hopefully the stairwell. I was pretty sure the stairwell led to the roof. Had I been thinking ahead, I might have suggested we take the stairs after leaving Shai's cell, but at the time I'd been set on following Makari's plan. Confronting troopers seemed inevitable at this point, but maybe we could acquire some weapons in the process.
Up ahead, on the right, I caught a light shining through one of the grates. As much as I wanted to rush, I forced myself to take it slow. There could be a trooper in the room. I doubted it was a cleansing room since the building was probably on lock down, and they didn’t cleanse during the night. I glanced at Shai and could just make out her face. I wanted to warn her what was coming, but didn't want to risk using my voice. Shai nodded her understanding. She had seen the light too.
I chanced a quick glance through the grate to make sure I wouldn't be spotted. When I didn’t see anyone, I moved to the other side, turning carefully so Shai could see too. As soon as I settled in my new spot, I saw him. A Dansig Trooper guarded a door, which must have been an exit, on the adjacent wall. Provided he was alone, I might be able to disarm him if I had the element of surprise. I pressed my fingers to my lips and pointed. Shai nodded. It would have been easier to communicate with her through the shadow world, but since I didn’t have that option I leaned in as close as possible and whispered in her ear.
"I'm going to try to subdue the guard and get this grate open."
"Do you think we can get out this way?"
"I hope so."
After shifting into the shadow world, I positioned myself right in front of the guard with the heel of my palm ready to strike his throat. All troopers were trained in martial combat, but so was I. Not that I was naive enough to believe I could overpower him. He had size and strength on his side, and far more experience. I had only ever sparred with Kado, never facing the need to apply what I learned in a real fight.
Pushing away my distracting thoughts, I left the shadow world and, at the same time, struck out at the trooper before he even registered I was there. I heard a crunch, then the man's eyes bulged as he gripped his throat and sank to his knees. I didn’t feel any sense of achievement. My plan might have worked, but at what cost. The trooper’s face turned red, and he gripped my arm tightly, pulling me towards him. At first I thought it was the action of a desperate man in the throes of death, but then his hand whipped towards me. His fingers wrapped around my neck and squeezed. I saw awareness enter his eyes. He knew he was going to die, and he intended to take me with him.
It might have worked if the lack of oxygen hadn’t weakened him. I lifted my knee, striking him under the chin. The blow sent him backward, his head smacking the floor. I had never killed anyone before—at least not directly—and I hadn't intended to end his life. My aim had been to shock and incapacitate him. I knelt beside him, feeling a strong urge to help. But he had already stopped moving, and I knew he was gone.
I ran to the closest corner and vomited.
"Auren, there's something coming. Hurry," Shai called from the vent.
Chapter 4
I took a deep breath and forced my body to cooperate. I needed to find the access panel by the door so I could release the grate. Finally, it popped open allowing me access to the secondary panel. I pulled the slider to the right as Shai had done earlier. The grate opened immediately, and Shai climbed out of the vent.
"Quick," she said, watching the vent nervously. "Close it."
I slid it back into place.
"I think they figured out where we are. I swear I heard something."
We fell silent, listening intently. For a moment, I wondered if maybe she had been hearing things, but then I heard it too. It sounded like something was rolling through the vent. A few seconds later two small, metallic spheres rolled through the grate into the room, while others continued on their way. It was if had they'd had a mind of their own. The two balls rested in the middle of the room. My head spun, and nausea threatened again.
Shai picked them up. "Hurry, we have to get rid of these. You won't be able to go into the shadow world until we do. They definitely know you're a shadow stalker. These are made from the same metal as the recinder. They block any shadow stalker nearby from accessing the shadow world. It's how they captured me."
I grabbed the handle of the door the trooper had been guarding, but of course it was locked. Together, Shai and I began searching him for his key card. It hung from a cord around his neck, hiding in his shirt.
"We can't use it," I told her. "It's keyed to his DNA."
"Will it still work if he's dead?"
I shivered at the indifference in her tone. "I don't know. I hope so, otherwise we're trapped."
I knelt next to him, quelling another bout of nausea when I looked into his accusing eyes. I couldn’t be sure what caused the sickness; guilt over killing a man, or the strange technology meant to prevent me from escape. Perhaps both. Shai knelt on his other side and we lifted him into a seated position. She managed to hold him up so I could place the key card in his hand and wave it in front of the door. It worked. The door swung open. Slowly, we lowered the trooper back to the ground and, in the next instant we were through the door; dashing up the stairs on the other side.
"Another door. Great." I pulled the handle, but it didn't budge.
"Now what? We can't carry him up here," Shai said.
Footsteps sounded behind the door opposite the one we just opened; the one that led back into the building. More troopers were heading coming for us. I ran down the steps and grabbed the dead man's arm, attempting to drag him over to block the other door. It was doubtful it would keep the troopers out, but at least it would slow them down.
"Help," I called to Shai.
She was beside me in seconds, helping me pull him across the floor. We were just in time. I heard the lock click, followed by the sound of grunting as the troopers attempted to push open the door. It inched open. We wouldn't have much time. Shai and I ran to the stairs, slamming the other door closed. When we reached the top, Shai's hand reached for the handle.
"It's loc—" I started to say.
The door opened as Shai's hand continued to hang in the now empty space. Two Dansig Troopers blocked our escape; one held a rifle, the other held a recinder.
"It's over, shadow stalkers. You cannot escape. Surrender and come peacefully, and we might go easy on you," the nicer looking of the two said.
The other wore a scowl that appeared permanently etched on his face.
"You'll only consider it?" I asked, stalling for time. I didn't know what chance we had now, but I was not about to make it easy for them.
"You've given us a lot of trouble, girl. You're lucky we're considering it," the mean looking trooper said.
I nodded. "Fair enough."
As I spoke, Shai tossed the balls over their heads. I never heard them hit the ground, but I felt my connection to the shadow world return, and just as suddenly the disorientation and nausea disappeared.
"Hide," I whispered to Shai as I disappeared into the shadow world. I hated the thought of releasing another demon into the physical world, but I had no choice. I couldn't take down two troopers. I allowed my anger and fear over the situation to radiate from me, attracting the attention of the closest demon. My heart pounded as it sped toward me. I had to time it right, to ensure I was out of the way so its focus would switch to the two troopers. As soon as it was close enough I moved position, so I was behind it, and shifted out of the shadow world, bringing the beast with me.
"Demon," one of the men shouted, while the other yelled, "Run."
"Shai," I called out, searching frantically.
She stepped from behind a vent in the distance. "Over here."
My breath came out in a rush. Thankfully I hadn't spent too long in the shadow world. I had given her just enough tim
e to hide, the troopers too distracted by my sudden disappearance to worry about her.
We stepped into the open, and I scanned the rooftop. "Climb down the drainpipe and wait in the alley." It was the only side that wasn't lit.
As soon as Shai disappeared, I turned toward the sound of the demon's roar. I couldn't lose track of it. It had caught up with the troopers, now on the other side of the roof. One of them was already on the other ground, unmoving. The other tried shooting at the demon, which only made it angry. A swipe of its claws disarmed the trooper and eviscerated him at the same time. I was glad my stomach was empty, but even so I had to force back the urge to start heaving.
There was nothing I could have done differently, given the circumstances. The troopers would have captured us if I hadn't released that demon. They had left me no choice. Now it was time to send the demon back into the shadow world before it could hurt anyone else. It stood on the edge of the roof, looking down. I ran forward as the demon roared at something on the ground, and I jumped on its back. The smell of rotting flesh made my head spin. It almost managed to throw me off, over the side of the building. My vision blurred as I hung from its arm over the street below, but I didn't hesitate. I shifted into the shadow world, moving away from it quickly so I could shift back onto the rooftop. This time I left the demon behind.
As soon as I was relatively safe I bent over, grabbing my knees for support. I took a deep breath and regretted it immediately. I smelled like a demon. This time I couldn't stop the violent dry retching.
Chapter 5
I avoided looking at the two dead troopers and forced myself to take shallow breaths as I made my way towards the drainpipe. My arms were shaking as I eased my way over the side of the building. Even so, I kept my feet firmly wedged between the pipe and the wall so I could use my arms to stabilize myself as I worked my way down the pipe.
Shadow Stalker Part 2 (Episodes 7 - 12) Page 15
