Lanterns In The Sky

by P. S. Malcolm

  "Watch out!” Jason warned as a large obstacle came into view up ahead. It was an abandoned mining cart, so big it almost blocked the entire tunnel. The crumbling rubble didn't help.

  Jason propelled himself around it with his arm, bouncing off the tunnel wall. Skye and Valarie followed in a similar fashion, wedging between the two and shooting through like a mouse escaping a cat. I copied her, banging my knee in the process. Pain stabbed through my bones, but I clenched my teeth and ran on, ignoring it.

  Our footsteps pounded, and Jason's flashlight bounced up and down, up and down, making it harder to see. If Chrissy knew… if she'd seen us down here, that meant our plan had already failed. Did Andrew and the others know this? Or was she still following them, like a predator chasing her prey?

  "Dammit!” I said through clenched teeth, my mind going faster than my feet could carry me. "We're probably heading straight into a trap!"

  "I know,” Jason called back. "We're going to have to act fast. There's no other way out of here, so if they're waiting for us on the other end, we need to know exactly where to go."

  From what I'd been told, I knew the tunnel's exit came out a little way behind a block of houses. Assuming they were abandoned, we could try and lose them through there, and that would eventually lead us to the Community Centre in any case.

  As I glanced over my shoulder, my heart lurched. They were catching up—the two angels who had fallen behind were now nowhere in sight. I turned back to the other angels, and though I didn't want to part with too many of them too soon, it was a sacrifice we were going to need to make if we wanted a shot of getting out of here. I threw a pointed glance at the two on my right.

  "Can you two fall back?” I asked, and they nodded, immediately slamming to a stop and spinning gracefully on their heels. I left them behind as we charged ahead, putting all of my faith into them.

  I heard the sounds of limbs snapping and blades clashing, but I didn't dare look back. While they were distracted, I pushed harder to catch up to the other three and told them my plan.

  "That seems to be our only option,” Jason replied, and Valarie grimaced.

  "Ugh, we got completely ambushed!” she complained breathlessly. "What if the houses have more mirrors, and they find us again?"

  "We'll just have to be careful,” I said. My sides were aching in protest, and my legs involuntarily slowing, but I finally spotted an opening up ahead. The night sky and the Starlight Barrier glittered with promise, lighting our way out of here, and my heart swelled at the sight.

  "Just a bit further!” Skye panted, and we raced up and up, until we finally reached the opening. The fresh, crisp air hit me like a bus, and I gulped down breaths, pausing for just a few seconds to catch my breath.

  "Which way?” Valarie gasped, and we looked behind us at dark estate. The houses were shrouded in pitch black night—the only light in the entire town was coming from the centre, the faint glow shining like a beacon. I gestured to the estate with my head.

  "This way. There's no time to waste—"

  Crack!

  The sound came from the trees, and my gaze whipped around, only to spot more Urenphians emerging from the trees. The angels readied their stance once more, and we took off running. Honestly, I felt bad for leaving them, but we had no choice.

  We tore through the grass onto the pavement and straight down a narrow alleyway. Jason took a sharp left, and we followed him. There was a fence, but he launched himself up onto a bin and pushed himself over it.

  "Jason!” Valarie protested, clambering after him. "We're not ninjas!”

  Jason straightened his jacket as he waited for us, his sharp gaze scanning our surroundings. "Just hurry up!"

  We managed to get over, then kept going down the dark street. The thick, smoky scent of ash still lingered in the air, and many houses had only rubble and ruins left where they'd once stood. I very much doubted there was anyone still hanging around here.

  "Hey,” Skye said, coming to a stop beside a tall brown house. "Maybe we should go in here, and wait for them to clear off.” She peered through a window, and I went to her side to inspect the interior. It was all intact, and there were enough hiding spots should we need them.

  "Sounds good,” I said, and reached for the door. It swung open with ease, an idle creak sounding in the air. We all hurried inside, and Valarie went straight to the hallway to seek refuge. From there, we could keep an eye on the entrance, but still dart upstairs if need be.

  I sank against the wall, desperately needing to catch my breath and rest my feet. Valarie slumped down opposite me, and even Jason looked worn out, leaning against the wall. Skye was huddled by the corner, keeping an eye out.

  "Oh, man,” Valarie huffed, throwing her head back against the wall and letting her eyes flutter closed. "That was crazy."

  "Are you alright?” Jason asked, glancing idly over at her. Valarie's eyes snapped open, and her gaze focused on his. I noticed her jaw lock up before she ducked her head.

  "I'm fine,” she said shortly, her gaze trailing away from him. Jason shifted uncomfortably. It seemed like they needed some space, so I got to my feet.

  "You two will be fine to keep a look out, right?” I asked casually, and Skye glanced over at us.

  "Uh,” Jason stammered, but then swallowed quickly. "Yeah. Yeah, we'll be fine. You two should… check the rest of the house. Just in case."

  I nodded and gestured for Skye to follow me, and we both headed upstairs. She threw a questioning look at me, but I shook my head, not wanting to get into it.

  The landing had white walls and light brown doors. A side table held a small potted plant, which was looking a little wilted.

  "Come on—let's check these bedrooms,” I said, reaching for the first door. Empty, except for a bed, a wardrobe, and a nice rug. I could hear faint voices from downstairs, and I did my best to ignore it. It wasn't any of my business, and I'd done my meddling. I headed for the next bedroom, but the voices grew louder. My curiosity kicked in, and my fingers clamped around the doorknob as I tried not to listen. Jason's voice drifted up the staircase.

  "I know this is all hard to understand, but I promise you nothing has changed between us. I'm still the person you knew—"

  "No, you're not!” came Valarie's sharp voice. "How dare you come into my life and pretend to be somebody you're not. You should have been honest with me from the start!"

  "And how was I supposed to do that?” Jason retorted. Skye and I had frozen, unable to stop ourselves from listening in. "Would you have believed me if I'd told you I was immortal? That I had waited for centuries to see you again?"

  I heard the sound of shoes scuffing on the floor.

  "Why did you do that?” Valarie asked. "I never asked for you to do that. I don’t know what kind of person Adrina was, but I'm telling you right now, she's not me. And this heart, in this body, doesn't belong to anyone. So why would you just assume I'd take you back?"

  A pause. And then,

  "You're right,” Jason's voice echoed, softer now. "And I did consider that… in fact, I didn't approach you for a very long time because of that reason. I was afraid that despite everything, you'd reject me."

  Hearing the conversation unfold below me made my heart twist with an emotion I couldn't quite place. It took me a moment to realize it was sympathy. For Jason.

  "Then why did you even bother?” Valarie asked as Skye and I quietly crept to the staircase. Valarie's back was to us, but we could just make out Jason's figure from the top of the stairs. His eyes were so intense, it made my heart skip a beat. His fists were clenched.

  "Because you were the best thing I'd ever known… and losing you was the hardest thing I ever had to go through. I couldn’t stand the thought of giving you up when there was a chance I could get you back."

  He paused, and his voice was suddenly gravelly.

  "I knew that things would be different… I knew it was a long shot… but I couldn't ignore the opportunity. I had to at least try, and eve
n if I didn't get you back, I had to at least make things right between us. I had to redeem myself for what I did.” He ran a hand through his hair, lowering his gaze. There was despair and regret in his tone. "I couldn't live with myself in that world I'd created. I killed you, Adrina. It was all my fault… and I had to tell you I'm sorry."

  A hollow silence filled the entire house, and I barely dared to breathe. I'd seen Jason's emotion when he'd told the story to me, but it was somehow different seeing him say it to Valarie's face. For just a moment, I couldn't see Jason as a bad person. I couldn't imagine him having the guts to kill someone, or hurt someone.

  And then, when he lifted his eyes, everything inside of me changed. I could see it in his very soul—that powerful love he had for Adrina, and it all made sense to me. I could see how he had that strength, and how he'd done those things. All because of the passion inside his heart. He'd go to any lengths to protect her, cross any line. His loyalty and devotion couldn't be challenged by anyone.

  "I'm sure Adrina would appreciate that,” Valarie said finally, straightening her stance. "But those words don't mean anything to me. You wronged me in the past, and you wronged me again in this timeline. I don't know, Jason… it's just too complicated for me right now."

  Jason lowered his gaze again.

  "I understand,” he said finally, his voice hollow. There were no more words—nothing more he could say or do. Valarie turned away from him, and I realized she was heading our way, for the stairs. My arm snaked around Skye as I pushed us both back, rushing us into a room so we wouldn’t look like we'd been listening in.

  Half an hour later, we decided it had been enough time, and that it would be safe enough to venture out again.

  Jason kept to himself, pulling his jacket tighter around himself and ignoring all of us. I didn't blame him—if I were in his shoes, I don't know how I'd keep it together.

  We slipped outside and snaked through the winding streets and alleyways, following the dim light until we finally made it to the centre of town. The main street, which even at this hour was usually bustling with people, was completely deserted. Windows had been smashed, more buildings had succumbed to a pile of rubble, and even the fountain in the town square had been trashed. My heart felt heavy at the sight. It was awful seeing my home so poorly treated.

  "This way,” Skye said in a low whisper, leading us behind a concrete half-wall spilling with plants. The Community Centre was just up ahead, swarming with guards. Like every other building in the town, it was made of ancient bricks and wrought-iron windows, making it near impossible to get a glimpse inside without getting closer. I couldn't determine the situation in there at all from all the way back here.

  "How the heck are we going to get in there?” Valarie muttered to us as we huddled behind the half wall.

  "Well, before you do anything, I need to go in,” Skye replied, her knuckles turning white as she fisted through her black sweater. Her eyes were fearful, and I felt sympathetic.

  "We're counting on you,” Jason added, which didn't help the situation. I reached out to squeeze her hand, and she glanced at me.

  "You can do this,” I urged confidently. "And we're not going to leave you—we're getting you and Devian out of here."

  She smiled a little, and slight relief flashed in her eyes.

  "Thanks,” she whispered. She stood a little taller. "Well… there's no point in wasting time.” She stepped forward, a little shaky, but her legs steadied as she marched closer and closer to the building. The guards spotted her and an alarm sounded, causing her to slow her pace and hold up her hands.

  "Wait!” she cried. "I'm here to speak to Kale about my brother… take me to him.”

  One of the Urenphian guards growled and grabbed her roughly by the arm.

  "We don't take orders from you,” he snarled and tugged her along with him. My heart lurched as I watched, but Skye wasn’t done.

  "I was Chrissy's Chard!” she exclaimed quickly. "The Starlighters broke my bond. I wish to renew it!”

  They paused, and the one who was holding her looked towards another, who scowled.

  "Do you have information about the Starlight Princess's whereabouts?” he demanded.

  "Yes,” Skye responded firmly, meeting his eyes. "I'll tell you everything if you take me to Kale.”

  They exchanged doubting glances.

  "Fine,” the first one growled finally. "Chrissy should be back soon anyway."

  My eyes widened. So Chrissy was gone. Perhaps she had continued to go after Andrew and the others.

  Skye was led inside by the two Urenphians, and I let out a relieved sigh. For a little while, Kale would be distracted, so we couldn't afford to waste a single second. We had to get in, locate Devian, and get both of them out before Chrissy got back.

  "Let's go,” Jason said, and we ducked behind a building. Jason peered around the corner and pointed to the right side.

  "The roof is lower on that side—we can climb up there and find a way in. We might be able to break a window on one of those upper floors.”

  I nodded, and we continued to slip through the shadows, keeping to the walls and crouching behind entry stairways. No one noticed us as we darted past the entrance and down the side of the Community Centre. It was a huge building—finding Devian wasn't going to be easy.

  Jason finally found a footing and hoisted himself up. He then offered Valarie his hand and pulled her up onto the roof. When he reached for me and his warm hand closed around mine, I got a good look at his face. It was unreadable—a blank mask, concealing all the emotions that were no doubt coursing through him.

  His other hand lifted my other elbow, seeing as my wrist was still useless. I found my footing on the slated roof and fell into a crouch so that I wouldn’t draw attention. We all carefully edged across the roof, towards one of the closest windows. It was pitch black inside—they must have only been using the first floor. I didn't know if the building was alarmed, but the window certainly didn't budge when we tried to open it, and we agreed that we'd have to break it.

  "We need a rock,” Valarie muttered, but Jason shook his head.

  "Think like a fighter,” he said, drawing his sword. He turned it over and smacked the hilt of it into the window. It cracked, and with just one more hit, it shattered completely. I threw my arms up to protect myself as shards flicked out at me. We paused to make sure the sound hadn't drawn any attention to us, but when no one came, Jason cleared out the last of the glass and we carefully slipped inside.

  The glossy, checkered floor of the Community Centre greeted us, and the room seemed to consist of many tables and chairs, all organized to face inwards. Perhaps it was a meeting room of some kind, for public use. We headed for the door, and I pressed my ear to the wood to listen for voices before opening it. Thankfully, our coast was clear, and we slipped out into a narrow corridor.

  "Which way now?” Valarie whispered. I ventured forward a few steps, looking for any signs to help guide us. As we walked, I spotted a staircase emerging ahead, which led downstairs. We crept towards it and heard murmurs from downstairs.

  "Is that… crying?” Valarie asked, her eyes widening. We all peered over the stairwell, which led to a wide, spacious room. It was definitely the main hall—typically used for dance classes and the school's annual formal. But right now, half the town was crammed into it. Every single person had been shackled at the hands and feet. It seemed like they were in groups, as Urenphians guards stood in certain places, causing small separations. This definitely wasn't everyone, and I wondered what had happened to all the other residents.

  A chill went down my spine as I realised what must have happened

  "How are we meant to get these people out?” I murmured quietly. Without the angels, we really didn't have any help. Even Valarie seemed crestfallen at this sight, and Jason's expression had become grim.

  "Let's worry about that later,” he said. "We need to find Devian."

  He only took a step forward before a voice clea
red behind us. I whirled around, and there he stood, arms folded and a sly smirk on his lips.

  "Looks like you found me."

  Seventeen

  The three of us were hurled into a room, the door clicking shut behind Devian as he strode towards us. Jason drew his sword, and my hand flew to my dagger. But Devian just shook his head and leaned idly against a hardwood desk in the corner.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you. If I were to cause a commotion, you'd be outnumbered,” he drawled. "Besides, I haven't signalled an alarm yet."

  I narrowed my eyes.

  "Why not?” I asked, folding my arms. His eyes glinted those beautiful yet obscure colours as he cocked his head.

  "Well, I do owe you three. You took out Neo instead of me, allowing me to keep my Chard bond. So allow me to return the favour, and hear you all out. For now, at least.” He pushed off the desk and rounded to the chair behind it, settling into it and resting his arms behind his back. "What can I do for you adventurous troublemakers? Heard you caused quite a stir earlier in those old mines.”

  We didn't relax our stances. Valarie remained stiffer than a pole in Devian's presence.

  "We came to kidnap you,” I admitted finally. Valarie shot me an annoyed glance.

  "Damn it, Lucy, why do you always have to be so blunt about things?” she hissed. But Devian seemed intrigued by what I'd said, and leaned forward.

  "Should I be flattered?” he mused, raising an eyebrow.

  "Probably not,” I replied shortly. "Anyway, if you're willing to do us a favour, maybe we won't have to kidnap you."

  Jason cleared his throat and said quietly, "Skye's request?"

  I threw him a look that told him to shut up. Devian smirked.

  "My, you've grown awfully bold since our last meeting,” he mused, chuckling. "A bit of preparation and training, and you're acting like you have it all figured out. It must be nice to live in ignorant bliss."

  I didn’t pay heed to his words and took a step closer, gesturing to Valarie.

  "I heard you can read into people's past lives. We were hoping you might be able to read into Valarie's and awaken Adrina. Perhaps see if there are any memories or remnants of power in her soul.”