Shadows of Our Sins: (Shadow Purgers Series, Book 1)

by N. Phillips

  We leered at one another in opposition. The silence after our dispute diminished the tension in the air, but the dark aura surrounding Robyn’s belly made me question Lucas’s decision all over again.

  Do it, I thought to myself, fighting the urge to release a beam of light at Robyn’s stomach. What good would it do, anyway? She’d just wish the baby back.

  Still, the words were stuck in my head like a chorus. A catchy one at that.

  Do it…

  CHAPTER 24

  The bleak, cloudy sky outside my bedroom window fit my mood perfectly. The morning had been nothing but depressing thoughts of the events that transpired the day before. My life was going down a dark road I couldn’t get off of.

  Everything seemed so hopeless.

  After making my way to the bathroom and refreshing myself, I walked downstairs and saw the television screen on ESPN. “Dad?” I called out.

  He sat up on the couch and turned to me. “Hey, sweetie. I see you’re getting ready for school earlier than usual.”

  “I just have a lot to think about.”

  “Well, come and sit down. Talk to me. Clear you’re mind so you can focus on getting those grades up before graduation.”

  At the mentioning of the ceremony, a cage of profound sadness shackled around my heart. I looked away from him and sighed. “Dad, there’s so much going on, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to graduate. I can’t… focus.”

  He turned the TV off and patted on the couch. “Sit down.”

  I did as told with my head low and my eyes wandering the carpet. Telling him anything about what was going on would change everything, and I wouldn’t risk that, no matter how much I needed to voice my misery.

  “First, before you tell me what’s wrong, I’ll tell you right now that you are graduating. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts, you hear me? Why would you say otherwise?”

  “Because so many other things happen when I try to concentrate on school, and it’s hard to juggle between which is more important. It feels like I should have this big plan for the future, and I want that, believe me. But a lot of times, I feel what’s going on in my personal life is bigger than anything school related, and I just can’t focus.”

  I slouched back in dejection and expected him to reply with a serious lecture, but to my surprise, a comedic grin had taken over his face.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I used to have those exact same thoughts when I was your age. The exact same ones. I guess I shouldn’t keep it a secret from you anymore, so I’ll tell you the truth; I never finished high school.”

  “What? You told me you and Mom celebrated in Hawaii after graduation. Why would you lie?”

  He leaned back and chuckled before answering. “Because I’m a parent. And technically, it isn’t a lie. We did go to Hawaii, but it was after her graduation, not mine. You see, sweetie, when it comes to these things, parents want what’s best for their children, even if they have to sugarcoat it a little. When I confessed to my own father about the thoughts you’re having now, he neglected me. I never had an empowering push to finish my senior year.”

  I sat up attentively as he continued. “After dropping out, I struggled to survive. It was tough striving for opportunities when other things in my life were weighing down on me. Thankfully, I got a part-time job at an auto shop, where I was lucky enough to

  meet your mother when she came in for repairs on her parents’ car. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was, regardless of her nagging to fix the car before your grandparents found out.”

  We shared a laugh before he resumed. “I know I got a little off-topic, but the point is that I want you to live a better and easier life than I did. It took years of extra hard work to go back to school and get my degree, and I don’t want you to have to go through that. A good father must always support his child and wish for their success. The first stage of that success is finishing high school. You don’t always need to have a plan once it’s all over. As long as you have the education, you have the ability to pursue whatever dream you want.”

  After a nod of acceptance, I hugged him and simply said, “Thank you.”

  He whispered in my ear, “And just remember, your mother and I will always be here for you. This family loves you, Aliyah. Even your brother watching over you from above.”

  “I know.”

  We separated our embrace before a question came to mind. “Dad, just one more thing. Don’t think too into it, but… do you think it’s possible for me to change the world?”

  “That depends. Do you want the ‘Dad’ answer, or the social worker answer?”

  “The truth, please.”

  He leaned forward and rested his chin on his fist before replying. “Well, in order to change the world, you need to change people. And they’ll almost never change, no matter how much you want them too. But, everyone has the power to change for themselves if they’re willing too. You see, no matter how much influence you have in someone’s mind, it’s their heart that makes the final decision.”

  I stared at the blank TV screen and thought about his answer before asking, “So what you’re saying is that my words and... whatever else I may be able to do, is useless unless I reach the person’s heart?”

  He shook his head. “What I’m saying is that you need to stop aiming here,” he tapped his head with his finger, “and start aiming here,” he placed his hand on his chest. “That’s how you truly make a difference in someone’s life. Never stop helping people, Aliyah. But more importantly, never stop caring about them. One person cannot change the world, but he or she can empower others to help make it a better place. You can be the light that guides people in the right direction.”

  The light that guides people in the right direction. Those words stuck out to me, almost like a glimmer of hope deep within a valley of doubt. Our conversation gave me just enough solace to last another day.

  “Thanks again, Dad. I’m gonna get ready for school now.”

  “Alright. I’m here whenever you need me.”

  I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I know you are.”

  Math class was almost over, and though Maylene and I texted throughout it, I made sure to pay close attention to the lesson. My focus was only shifted after seeing Candice standing outside of the classroom. She had a nervous, almost fearful expression on her face, and she walked away before Ms. Walters, or any other student in the class apparently, could see her.

  “Can I use the bathroom?” I asked Ms. Walters, who had been grading papers at her desk.

  She looked up and gave me a cold stare. “Go ahead.”

  I grabbed my purse and textbook off the desk and stepped out the room. Sitting on the floor a few feet away with their back against a locker was Candice, who was wearing clothing that didn’t show off her breast.

  Totally not her style.

  “You don’t look so good,” I said, standing over her. She groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’re a troublemaker, but cutting class? Not your thing. What’s up?”

  “Like you haven’t heard. It’s all over my digital page.”

  I snorted before replying. “Candice, this might come as a surprise to you, but I don’t follow you on social media. At all. The only reason you pop up on my online recommendation list is because…” A sigh escaped my lips before I said, “I may have watched one of your makeup tutorials a few months ago. But that’s it. Honest.”

  We both chuckled and let our laughter die out before she finally said, “A guy forced himself on me outside my house last night. Nothing happened, though. Your friend’s abuelo called the police and the dude was arrested.”

  “Oh my God.” I sat on the floor next to her. “Was he like, some super fan or something?”

  She responded with a head shake. “Just a loco who wanted a cheap feel. It’s hard enough being in this building after what happened with that James guy, but now I have to deal with everyone in the school asking me questions and making judgmental comments. I can barely si
t still for too long because I’m so worried about everything.”

  This was not the Candice I knew. No, this was a real person. The mask of shallowness had been removed, unveiling genuine emotion and character. Had I not known the bell was gonna ring soon, I wouldn’t have minded a conversation with her.

  “It sounds like you’re tired of being popular,” I said, standing on my feet. “Maybe it’s time to give it all a break?”

  “Honestly, I wish I could.” She dug into her purse and took out a letter that read Parsons School of Design. “I applied for Parsons last year, back when my abuela wasn’t in such bad health and I thought I could pay my own tuition. Nowadays, she can’t work anymore and I’m afraid to leave her alone, so most of my life is being at home making videos in order for us to survive. Social media used to be a hobby for me, but now, it’s my life. I don’t know what my future is going to be like, but I can’t stop doing what I do. Not for anything.”

  The bell rung just as she stood on her feet and walked away. “Hey, Candice,” I called out through the crowd of students that quickly filled the hallway. She turned around as I approached her. “Have you ever thought about maybe talking to your followers about your problems?”

  “What? Why would I do that? They’d roast my life.”

  “Well, yeah, people online can be heartless. But you obviously have a fanbase, and I’m positive there’s a ton of people going through a similar situation as you. Instead of always doing makeup tutorials and talking about the latest trends, why not open up to your audience like you did with me? Maybe using your platform as an outlet to express yourself could be like a support system for you and others who need it.”

  She placed her finger on her chin and tilted her head to the side. “I’ll think about it,” she said with a shrug. “You’re not as much of a loser as I thought you were.”

  “Right back at you,” I replied. We both smiled and departed from each other’s presence, with me making my way to the gym to talk to Maylene.

  I spotted her inside the tangerine-colored dome next to a group of girls heading into the changing room. “Maylene, hold up.” I got her attention.

  “What’s up?” she asked, walking toward me. “Where’d you run off to at the end of class?”

  “I wanted to speak with Candice. But I’m here to talk to you about that text you sent me last period.”

  “Right. That.” We walked over to the bleachers and sat down. “When I got home yesterday, the flames in my fireplace started to erupt. Now normally, I’m able to keep a fire that small under control, but I couldn’t extinguish it as easy as I could any other time. I think my power is increasing.”

  “Does that mean Alvin was telling the truth? That the longer the Mentifery virus is inside of us, the stronger our abilities will become? Not to mention they’ll be easier to manifest.”

  She nodded. “And I think that’s why Alvin was so difficult for you to take down. He’s super powerful. But speaking of him, I went through some of my parents’ files that survived the fire, and the word Obsidian was plastered all over them. I couldn’t make out everything due to most of the pages being burnt, but I’m positive my parents knew what was going on. I have to meet this Alvin guy and have a talk with him.”

  Our conversation was interrupted by a middle-aged man wearing a gray sweat suit.

  “Maylene Rivers. Get to the changing room. Now.”

  His demand echoed through the gymnasium. Maylene turned her head to the gym coach and gave him a dirty look.

  “I’m coming.”

  He walked away as we got off the bleachers, but before Maylene and I departed, my cell phone vibrated in my pants pocket. I took it out and looked at the screen, seeing a message from a number I had never seen before.

  “Hello, Aliyah.” I read the text out loud. “This is Alvin.”

  “Speak of the devil,” Maylene muttered beside me. “Tell him you’ve got a friend who’d love to meet him. Lord knows he doesn’t get any action. Probably too busy experimenting on human subjects. Freak.”

  While amused by her joke, I focused my attention on the rest of the message.

  “I hope you are doing well this morning. I expect you to begin your assignment by the end of the school day. I could not bear to be the cause of your failed education.”

  Both Maylene and I groaned at his fake compassion. She took the phone out my hand and continued reading the text.

  “Attached to this message is a visual image of where you must visit. The potential Dreamer has been seen daily at this location. Beware of interrogating the target, as his ability is reported to be superior reflexes, which is of the utmost importance to me in case someone wishes to defy my orders.”

  Maylene snickered. “Is this guy for real? That was clearly a shot at you.”

  I grumbled my distaste with foul language. “Just keep reading.”

  “You have until the end of the night to report back to me with your findings. I am afraid there is no description for the target, but I am sure you will be able to detect him if he is truly a Dreamer. Have a good day, Aliyah. Remember, your friends and family are counting on you.”

  Maylene tapped the screen to enlarge the picture attached to the message.

  “What the hell? A cafe? What kind of boss sends his top-secret agent to investigate a cafe?”

  “At least it’s a small area. I shouldn’t have any problems finding this guy.”

  The sound of the bell resonated through the school, bringing us both back to reality.

  “Maylene Rivers,” the coach yelled out once more. “I told you to get ready for class.”

  Maylene stuck her tongue out at him before handing me back my phone. “I’ll meet you after school.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Maylene and I arrived outside a small cafe north of Ravenvale High. The exterior captivated us with its polished paint job of red and yellow coloration. When we opened the door, we were met with the same blend of colors that decorated the cushioned seats and steel tables.

  “A little bright, but it’s sorta cozy in here,” Maylene said, looking around the place. “Are your shadow senses tingling yet?”

  “Not nearly enough. There’s people in here with some negativity, but not enough to summon a Shadow or attract any Shade Crawlers.”

  After inspecting the café from front to back and sensing no signs of a Dreamer, our investigation came to a standstill.

  “There’s no one here we need to worry about,” I assured her. “Alvin must’ve given me the wrong information.”

  “That’s that, then. Let’s go.”

  As we were about to leave, a red-haired waitress approached us with a broad smile. Her body swayed side to side in an upbeat manner.

  “Excuse me. Hi, are you Aliyah Dawn?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  She heaved a sigh of relief, holding her chest. “Good. I didn’t want to hand this to the wrong person.” She presented an envelope. “A really cute guy wanted me to give you this. He described you to a T and was so nice; I assumed he knew you and was trustworthy. Here you go.”

  “Um, thanks?”

  Maylene snickered as the waitress skipped away, her pigtails jiggling with every hop. “Okay, someone needs to tell her to lay off the sugar. Like, immediately. She reminds me of my first girlfriend, and that is not a good thing. She’s got nice shoulders, at least.”

  “Really? Nice shoulders?”

  “What? You have to be impressed by small features and basic achievements. Otherwise, you’re considered a hater. That’s just the way the world works.”

  This girl was something else, I tell you.

  “Anyway,” she moved in close and peered down at the envelope in my hand, “let’s see what your secret admirer left for you.”

  I opened it and removed the letter from inside, whispering the words loud enough for her to hear.

  “I am the one you’re searching for. We’ll meet, but not here. Come to the address below and we’ll talk in private. Do n
ot alert Obsidian.”

  Maylene sucked her teeth at the invitation. “So much for Prince Charming. What a cheap love letter.”

  I read the letter one more time in my head and pondered the invite. Had I any choice in the matter, I would’ve thrown the paper in the trash and gone home, but the thought of my family and friends getting hurt caused me to reject that notion.

  “Come on. It’s time for a road trip.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Maylene drove through the suburban neighborhood of Floral Park in Long Island until she parked the car outside of an ivory brick house.

  “We’re here if the address is right. Definitely not what I was expecting.”

  “Me either,” I replied, looking out the car window at the flower garden surrounding the home. “We should be careful. I have no idea what we’re getting into anymore.”

  “Going off your recent history, I’d say we’re about to get into something dangerous. Good thing I’m here to protect you this time.”

  “Whatever. Let’s go.”

  We got out her car and walked the stone path leading to the front door. Anxiety was getting the better of me in this moment, as the nervousness in my gut increased after pushing the doorbell.

  “Fifty bucks says it’s some computer nerd who clicks on your pictures every day with his hand in his pants,” Maylene said with a grin. It’s amazing how she’s calm enough to make jokes. “Deal?”

  Unable to hold back a smile, I snorted and replied, “Fuck it. Deal.”

  I raised my hand to ring the bell once more, but the door swung open before my finger could touch it. Standing in front of us was a guy around our age or a little older, who appeared flabbergasted as he gripped his afro.

  “Bruh, holy crap. I can’t believe it actually worked. I’ve seen all your photos on IG, but I gotta say, standing face-to-face with you is unreal.”

  Maylene nudged me and whispered, “I want my money.”