Nick James - Crimson rising

Cassius runs his hand along the wall, careful not to get too close to the whirring blades of the fans. “You built this whole place by yourself?”

Bobby shrugs. “Nicked a lot of stuff from Barkley’s yard. He won’t even miss it. I was hoping to snag some new shades for these windows tonight but, you know, you guys are a much better find.” He leans back and emerges with an armful of cans. “Catch.” He tosses them down to us one by one, followed by an opener. “I forget what I grabbed, but it’s all edible. We throw out any bad stuff.”

As soon as I’ve got the opener in my hand, I rip the top of the can and shove my fingers inside, not caring what’s in there. I eat so fast that I can’t taste anything. We pass the cans around without a word, slurping and chewing and drinking the juice at the bottom.

“Whoa,” Bobby laughs. “I guess you really needed that. So Jesse, what’ve you been up to? Who are your friends?”

It’s a long story. Too long to tell him everything, but I give him the shortened version. I leave most of the stuff about Ryel and the Authority and Matigo out, but even without those parts, his eyes widen with every word. It’s the kind of eager curiosity I wish I had. I used to be like that, I think. Maybe.

“Well, you’re safe here,” Bobby says. “I’ve got scopes looking out every window of the tower. Nobody sneaks up on me here. I see ‘em first. In fact, just a few weeks ago I saw a Pearl land outside the east window, about half a mile away. Saw Unified Party Pearlhounds pick it up and everything.”

My stomach sinks at the mention of the word. The thought of the Unified Party hauling Pearls back to the Chosens makes me cringe.

“You can sleep here,” Bobby continues. “I’ll keep watch. You all look like you’re about ready to pass out anyway.”

“Thanks,” I reply. “And I know it doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry about what happened last time we were here.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he smiles. “Like I said, it was the most exciting thing to happen to Lenbrg in ages.”

I nod, but it doesn’t mean much. The truth is, I feel like a time bomb. The way things have been going, I’m not sure Bobby knows what he could be getting himself into, even if it is only for a short time in the middle of the night.

“Five hours,” Cassius says. “I suggest you all start sleeping now because we’ll be back on our feet before you know it.”

Skandar yawns.

“I’ll settle for three,” Eva says.

As for me, I’ll take anything I can get. Anything without a surprise or an attack or some terrible combination of the two. It’s not much to ask, but it would mean everything in the world right now.

I manage a fitful hour of sleep. An hour and a half, maybe. And then I feel it.

At first I think I’m still dreaming, that this is one of those blissful, sail-away-on-an-island-of-peace dreams that you never want to wake up from. But as the feeling coalesces, as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I know that this is no make-believe.

I sit up. Most everyone else is passed out. Bobby’s crouched on the second level, leaning on the base of one of his lookout windows. I can’t tell, but I think he’s asleep, too.

A Pearl. I’ve felt this too many times not to know what’s happening.

Careful not to disturb any of the others, I tiptoe to the door and ease it open. Without a sound, I step into the night air.

I see it instantly, hurtling down like a meteor. It leaves a line of green in the sky as it approaches. I pray it didn’t pass a Chosen City on its way down. If their scanners had enough time to pick it up, we’ll have Pearlhounds all over us. But if I break it and let the freed Drifter sail back into the air, they won’t know where to look. If they come looking at all.

I stretch out my arms like I’m about to catch a baseball. The Pearl keeps its trajectory, right toward me. I imagine alarm systems going off, like they used to at the Academy when a Pearl was this close. I picture crowds of people running from the deadly force. And here I am, waiting for it.

The Pearl begins to slow, controlled by my fingertips. I pull it closer, every inch causing more somersaults in my heart. No one else can feel this. Nobody else ever will.

Before I know it, I’m holding the green orb in my hands. I stare into the deep waves of energy. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to luxuriate with a Pearl like this. My heart swells with the healing warmth of it. This is better than sleep.

I survey the horizon, half expecting Alkine or Madame to jump out and steal the Pearl. Instead, Bobby’s voice cuts the silence of the night.

“I didn’t want to mention it,” he whispers, “but I knew I saw you catch one last spring.”

I turn, still holding the glowing orb.

His mouth hangs open in astonishment. “I’ve never seen one so close.”

“Duck,” I say, and toss the Pearl into the air. It casts a wide arc behind me. Bobby hits the ground. I close my eyes and feel the path of the Pearl through the sky. When it’s high enough, I break it.

“Christ almighty.” Bobby stands and shields his eyes as a firework of energy blazes through the darkness. It’s brightest at the center and dissipates as it streams toward us. By the time it reaches my skin, it’s only a tingle. Like feathers brushing against me.

I grit my teeth and whisper to myself. “Please come back, please come back.”

I spin and watch the Drifter shoot into the air, away from us. “Damnit.” I kick the dirt. “They never come back. Never when you need them.” I turn to Bobby. “I think it must be instinctual or something, like caged animals. They just wanna get as far away as possible.”

His eyes are wider than ever now. He carefully brings himself to his feet, shaking his head in disbelief. “You-” He chokes on his words. “What-” I’ve never seen him tongue-tied.

“There’s a lot you don’t know,” I say. “A lot nobody does. Pearls aren’t what they seem.”

He looks toward the sky. “I guess not.”

My shoulders slump. “We’ve got a fight on our hands, from all angles. I don’t even know if I’m helping or hurting.” I lift up my shirt.

Bobby gasps as he stares at the markings scrawled across my chest. “Who did that?”

I point to the sky. “One of those. But not a good one. At least, I don’t think so.”

“You’re freaking me out, man.”

“I know.” My gaze falls to the ground. “Be thankful, Bobby. Stay here. Stay where it’s simple.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

I turn and trudge back to the lookout tower, still abuzz with the energy. “You will,” I whisper. “If we can’t stop this, everyone will.”

– Another hour and my eyes fly open.

The door to the room hangs ajar. A thin figure stands just outside, staring in.

I bolt up, slamming my head against an overhanging piece of wood. The others wake around me, in varying levels of disarray. The fan blades continue to whir, giving the tight space a loud hum.

I keep my eyes locked on the boy.

The eyes.

Two pools of crimson pin me to the ground. Theo stretches an arm to lean against the doorframe. Moonlight illuminates his face as he moves closer. His expression is vacant, but his eyes are unblinking. They’re all I can focus on. His head tilts slightly to the side.

Bobby jumps down from the second level. “Who the heck-”

Theo opens his mouth as if to speak, but says nothing.

It stops Bobby cold.

Arm back at his side, Theo lurches away, moving into the open like a zombie.

Eva sits up. “What’s wrong with him?”

“There was enough tranquilizer in those darts to keep him down.” Cassius stands. “I don’t understand.” He moves toward the door, watching Theo continue his steady pace away from the lookout tower. It’s like he’s taunting us. Daring us to follow him.