Night Child, Chapter One
Everything is ready. My backpack leans against the window, stuffed with homemade apple cookies and energy bars I bought more than a month ago. My pockets jingle with change, and my wallet's stuffed with twenties and tens from Jen and Andy and allowances I never really earned. They should be asleep right now, and they'll stay asleep until I leave the window open when I climb out. By the time they check on me, I'll be gone.
I'm not their son, so I shouldn't dread this.
Whatever I am, there were people scouting out this town, looking for me. I'm a sight, with my gloves and my hat in the summer heat. It'd take an idiot to think there wasn't an ulterior motive. Either an idiot, or a human. Both of those are in no short supply in this town.
I wrench the window open after a couple of tries. Gloves are inconvenient at best, but they're a necessity to protect me from the sun.
Even though it's only two in the morning, it's good practice to keep my hands covered. If I end up getting jumped by the people scouting around, all they have to do is pull off my gloves and leave me in the sun, and I'll be unable to move until nighttime. The incredible pain that comes with the sun doesn't help my case.
My bedroom's on the lower floor. Rather, it's Evan's bedroom, but he's long gone. I'm wearing his body and playing his part in his life, and I'm sick of it. That's why I'm leaving. I'm not their son. I don't belong here.
At least, that's what I'm telling myself as I climb out of the window, pulling on my backpack.
Run like the wind, leave no footprints. Don't look at this too closely, and I won't think about what I'm leaving behind. Sprinting comes naturally to me, after years of practice watching Evan do the same with his friends, then doing the same things Evan did.
I was so naive back then. I thought I could just pretend Evan never died. But he did, and I can't live his life anymore. I'm just some body-stealer. I'm Evan's useless shadow.
The run takes me about twenty minutes to get from my house to the bus stop, and that's at full speed. It's only two and a half miles away, and I've been practicing for this. The bus stop is decrepit, and one of the benches there is missing, the legs of the bench still there.
Three teenagers stand there, each covered in just as many layers as I am, despite the seventy degree weather around us. Gloves, hats, long hair to cover their neck. These people are just as weak to the sun as I am. Which means they're body-stealers too, and probably for a much worse reason than me.
"Us shadows all seem to like the bus, don't we?" I say, walking up to them with a nervous smile. A complete bluff. These are the people that were looking for me.
The only girl out of the three narrows her eyes. I'm right. They're shadows too. I stare at their shadows the streetlights cast, probably to the point of being impolite.
"So. Those are your real bodies?" I point down at the girl's shadow. "I carry mine around behind me too," I say, pointing to my shadow. "At least, that's what I've figured out from practice. I was born with my human." I smile up at them, this one more confident. "I'm new to this thing. But I'm guessing since you three have been searching for me, this isn't your first body."
"Listen up, kid." The girl starts to try to say something, the boys behind her smiling like they're just waiting for her to make a mistake. "You don't know anything about us or why we're like this right now."
"This?" I have to figure out why these people were stalking me. I don't know anything about other shadows. I don't know what I am. I've never met another, so I'm going to take all the information I can out of them, and then escape before they do whatever they've been planning.
"He's just trying to keep me talking." The girl grumbles, turning back to one of the boys. He has thick and curly brown hair, and a tattoo on his collarbone. It's some strange symbol. A gang? Are these people part of some strange shadow gang? "Should I just go ahead?"
Tattoo Boy shrugs, sticking his hands into his hoodie pockets.
The girl grits her teeth, looking at me with an annoyed look. "Listen, kid. I'm trying to talk to you."
"I don't even know what I am. You can't exactly interrogate me."
"I'm not here to interrogate you, human lover."
"Whoa." I put my hands into the air, looking around me for any openings. This doesn't look like they want a friendly chat. I need to get out of here. "That's a little harsh. What made you think that?"
"Why are you wearing that body?"
Getting to the real questions, are we?
"Not for any selfish, stupid reason." I reply, glaring at the girl. "I probably couldn't say the same about you guys, though."
"Little twerp." The girl rolls up her sleeves, and I look up at her, scanning for weaknesses. I have a flashlight in my bag. Light is not good for shadows.
If I shine light on the outside of her, she'll probably just disappear with her human body, taking advantage that I can't do the same thing, and she'll kill me. If I've read the situation right.
If I get too much light shone on me I disappear, but my shadow, my real body, doesn't. I assume that she can do the same thing, just better than me. So that's no good.
Earrings. She's wearing earrings.
What happens if I shine light on the inside of a shadow?
Just guessing, probably nothing good.
I take my phone out of my pocket, turning on the flashlight in her face. She freezes, falling to the ground. She can't move, I know from experience.
Light is the fastest way to keep a shadow from moving.
"Don't disappear." Tattoo Boy says in a deep voice. "We're testing your skills here, not your talent."
"Got it." She says through gritted teeth.
If she can still talk after the light in her face, my prognosis is grim.
She pushes herself up to her feet, glaring at the space next to my flashlight. She wouldn’t look at it directly. That’s a good sign. “Listen up, twerp. I’m sick of young shadows, but I’m even sicker of human-lovers.”
“Why do you guys assume that?” Besides the fact that I’ve seen them stalking me for weeks, they shouldn’t have any proof.
“You hang out with humans.” She says, taking out sunglasses and putting them on with great difficulty. “You talk with them. You laugh with them. You work for them.”
“Because they think I’m one of them.”
“That’s hilarious.” Tattoo Boy says with a harsh laugh. “Get him in the car. Maybe we can talk some sense into him.” He waves his hand towards me. Was that my imagination, or did his shadow just walk away?
I’m terribly outclassed here.
Keep her talking.
“I don’t like humans, my friend.” I say, trying to think through a plan.
It’s obvious that they could get me in that car through force. They aren’t jumping for force yet, or attacking me, which means they think they still have a chance at getting through to me. That, or the girl doesn’t know how weak I am.
“You don’t? Explain that girl you hugged.”
“The girl I pickpocketed a cookie from?”
“You nicknamed her.”
“It’s what my human used to do.”
She narrows her eyes. “Stop getting me off track. Get in the car.” She points to a suspicious looking minivan parked at a meter.
The others aren’t helping her, and they definitely don’t feel threatened by me. This is some sort of test for her. Perfect for me, but I don’t know what’ll happen if I win. Will they take me by force if I beat her? Will they leave?
I have to take my chances.
“I’m sorry, but I’d rather take my chances on the bus with humans.” I reply smoothly, turning off the flashlight.
This better work.
She runs at me, but I jump to the side at the last minute, dodging her. Black hair, black hoodie, black pants, not to mention that I’m a literal shadow. I blend into the night a little too well.
Tattoo Boy and the black-haired boy next to him try not to laugh.
“He got you there, Rach.” The black-haired boy says. He’s very tall, but his voice is high for a boy’s. Either way, it sends chills down my spine.
They really don’t care about this.
I’m entertainment.
This plan might work. I look over at them, running over to them in what probably ranks as the Riskiest Thing I’ve ever done. “Hey.” I whisper to Black Hair. He seems the most likely to let me get a win.
He gives me a sarcastic smile, but his eyes light up. “Yeah, kid?”
“If I give you guys a show, will you help me out?”
“You know we’re going to target you later, right?” He asks.
“I’m aware.” Crap.
Tattoo Boy frowns. “Don’t be like that. Help you out? You’re a target. You’re supposed to be caught.”
“Yeah, but your leaders don’t care if I get caught? It doesn’t affect you, it affects her, right?”
“Smart one.” The girl, Rachel (I think) turns over to me, finally catching my eye.
“What are you doing?” She screeches.
“Not now.” Tattoo Boy says. “I have a deal for you.”
“I’ll take it.” I say. I can deal with them later, but I’d like them on my side. “What do I need to do?”
Tattoo Boy shared a look with Black Hair, who looks a lot less enthusiastic than him. He gives me a creepy smile. “Kill her.”
My mind starts to race with all the thoughts I would never want to have.
How?
When?
Where?
Not one thought of ‘is it okay?’ ‘is it right?’. No. My life is on the line.
“Do I have to?” I say, in a last plead. Black Hair looks over at Tattoo Boy, as if he’s asking too. “I’d rather not get my hands dirty.”
Not to mention I have no idea how to.
And I have morals.
And I’m not strong enough.
“If you’re too weak to do this, you’re too weak to survive.” Tattoo Boy replies. “Figure it out, or we’ll finish the job for you.”
Rachel glares at us with a look only described as murderous.
“Welcome to being a shadow, kid.” Black Hair says.
I clench my flashlight. What was I thinking earlier? If I shine the light on the outside of a shadow, they weaken and freeze up. In extreme cases they disappear.
What happens if I shine the light on the inside of a shadow?
I shine the flashlight on her face, and she cringes, but remains standing upright. There’s an open earring hole.
Either I’m right and she’s way too cocky, or I’m wrong and I’m going to die. No matter how it plays out, I’m going to regret this. This is wrong. I want to live in peace and get away from these stalkers. Should’ve stayed at Jen and Andy’s house, lived a lie.
I turn to Tattoo Boy. “I hate you for making me do this. I’m going to stop you someday.”
“From what?” He asks me, sounding genuinely curious. Black Hair looks away from both of us.
“This. Testing. Kidnapping. Murder.”
“You seem perfectly fine to go along with it.”
“She’s disposable to you. Either I do it or you do.” I reply, trying to keep my words smooth. Black Hair clenches his fists. That’s how I feel, buddy.
Tattoo Boy hands me a knife, but I refuse it.
I don’t hold weapons.
I’m not ready for that.
The next minutes pass in a blur, and with the flashlight pressed up to her ear, she falls to the ground. Her shadow melts away, leaving a fake, moon-created one. There’s no life in the shadow left by light.
“Good job, kid.” Tattoo Boy says. Black Hair looks like he’s about to throw up.
My heart pounds, and I try to keep my breathing steady. It’s not working. “I kept my deal.” I say, trying to hold back tears.
“You killed her.” Black Hair says, his voice small. “Get in the car.”
“That wasn’t the deal.”
“Get in the car!”
Tattoo Boy puts his arm in front of him. “Don’t worry. We’ll see him again soon enough.” He smiles kindly at me, but I know that’s the smile of a sadistic creature. “You entertained me tonight. I’ll spare you for now.”
“So you would’ve killed me.”
“Before, you were a human-lover. Now you’re on my level.” I feel sick. “There’s always a place for you with us. I’m Lukas. Who are you?”
“You know who I am.”
“You’re obviously not Evan.” He replies with a small laugh.
Just three guys, talking next to a dead body. Completely normal. I’m fine. I’m not sick to my stomach. I’m not about to pass out from fear. This is okay.
“I’m Marion.” I reply. “I have a bus to catch.”
Lukas grabs Black Hair’s wrist. “We’ll see you in a couple months, Marion. Think about your decision then.”
They walk away as the bus pulls up, and my eyes fill up with tears.