Barcode: Cavern of Youth (18 page)

I have issues of my own. I still need to find a way to the top. With the distance between these two levels, there’s no way I can make that jump again.

In the cave, I’ve been working on mimicking Blue-Skin’s technique of traveling through shadows. I didn’t understand it the first time I saw it, but when Hades created his own shadow, there was more data to analyze. It’s really about using darkness to increase speed. Scientist often brag about the speed of light, but don’t realize that darkness is what allows entrance into alternate dimensions. It has a speed as well. With the low clouds and sun blocked out, I could take the lead, but I could also tire out early.

I decide to squeeze through three extremely large warriors: Brandon, Trent, and William. So many of the giants stand both head and shoulders over me that I sneak through without them even noticing. I made sure not to bump into anyone, though it’s a tight fit.

Wesley shouts, “Don’t let him through,” but it’s too late.

I yelp, “Snitch!” as I roll on the ground to dodge Addison’s attempt to bump me out of the way.

We cross the starting point by leaping over a very large gap. That one is a minor skip compared to the second space that follows. It’s nearly eight feet long. Though I underestimated the amount of push I needed, I catch myself just in time to clear the area and maintain first place.

Abby and Selena are neck-and-neck, pumping their arms feverishly to catch me. I’m more worried about the group above us. They’re way ahead of us. There’s probably a sixty second lead behind the last person in their group, Patrick.

The distraction on this level is just too much.

The “solid” ground we’re running on isn’t as great as Jules wants to admit. I’m sure he didn’t do this on purpose, but the ground moves like a bridge. The more people running, the more it oscillates. I can’t maintain the proper footing to catch up with the others because the muscleheads chose this stage. We’re bouncing up and down ridiculously.

I still don’t see any ropes long enough to swing me up to the third level and we’re coming on the second pass already.

While searching for a means of elevation, something explodes underground. Seconds later, several barrels fly out with the sound firecrackers make before exploding in the night sky.

Half of the barrels are torched. The other half appear frozen. The explosion also caused other nasty effects. Most of the students that were racing underground are now unconscious. For Jules’ debut of his technological ingenuity, he definitely failed.

More barrels dash into the sky and crash in front of cars on the streets outside the arena. The force behind their flight causes a few of the ropes to land on top of the third and second floors. Without those hanging down, we’re a little less protected. If anyone falls between those open spaces, they’re out of luck.

With no time to worry, I run towards the center of the arena and jump out. I clumsily step onto a flying barrel. Though I try being graceful, I lose my footing and fall backwards, landing directly on my spine. At least I’m finally at the top, but I’m dead last.

Luckily for me, this group performed several miracles. They destroyed all of the swinging obstacles during their first two laps. It was Malik’s idea.

Because of their efforts, they’ll only have to worry about a basic footrace. Unfortunately for them, as they take out the last few road blocks ahead, I have a free run.

Monte’s stolen the lead, and Malik looks determined to catch him. The two run forcefully, but Angie secretly activates her tattoo and dashes ahead of them. Patrick destroys a swinging pendulum with a handgun. Now I see what he’s doing. He’s breaking the obstacles so Malik can win and choose their team.

The pendulum crashes onto the surface and bounces hard. Though it will fall on the backside of the course, it’s currently blocking my run. I increase my speed before sliding under the bouncing weight, feet first.

It smashes down once more and rolls off the course. “Thanks dude,” I yell in passing.

I didn’t think the others would notice, but they glance over their shoulders. I forgot. All of them hate me.

Angie leaps over the first gap and lands gracefully. I pick up a black feather that falls on the ground as I pass the distance she just crossed.

All three are approaching the second jump, but they’re too close. Someone isn’t going to make it. I consider sending a warning, but I’d rather use their ignorance to my advantage.

Angie flies across the area and Monte follows an inch behind her. As Malik activates his codes to cross the space, I’m able to see the power that Richard warned me about.

This idiot purposely pushes Monte into Angie mid-air. Though he nearly kills himself, he crosses the distance. They all roll on the hard surface, one after another.

I propel over their fallen bodies and notice something wrong. Angie’s landed on the stone head first and is unconscious. She’s also wrapped in one of the ropes.

Malik and Monte struggle to stand to their feet, and don’t notice Angie falling on the backside of the course. Patrick screams for Malik to grab her. The mutt looks over his shoulder, but continues running. Monte staggers for a second when he sees what’s happening, but he’s too slow to react.

Angie falls off the edge. Without hesitation, I turn around and run in the opposite direction. The mutt passes me with a devilish grin.

Using a shock wave once more, I leap from the side of the structure and dive towards the ground. I cut the rope wrapped around Angie’s neck.

Before plummeting into the unforgiving sand and stone from fifty yards up, I build the strongest force I can acquire within my fist.

Several feet from the ground, I expel a huge energy while swinging at the battlefield. A large area of concrete shatters under my fist. Angie and I are surrounded by sand and debris. The crater I created fills with dust. Though it was enough to soften our fall, quite a few rocks leave us with some nasty scars. Much better than breaking our necks.

My body begs me to remain motionless until someone comes to assist us, but I rush over to Angie and pull her head out of the dirt to prevent her from suffocating. I’m forced to lift her with my left arm because I shattered my right arm and collarbone nearly as drastically as I demolished the ground.

Jules’ entire structure quakes wildly. Every student falls and holds onto something in order to stay on the course. Creaking sounds and clanks echo across the field. I accidentally destroyed several support beams and the structure is now under an incredible amount of pressure. This obstacle course has become a death trap that could crash at any minute. Knowing Professor Jules, we still need to cross that finish line if we want to choose our teams.

I cough blood into my hand and wipe the black residue on my legs.

The EMT Jules has prepared rushes to us. By now, everyone’s standing and analyzing the destruction I’ve caused. The male nurse examines my wound. “You’re hurt pretty badly. If you strain it any more, you could end up losing that arm.”

I’m sure he says some other crap I don’t feel like hearing right now, but I’m already standing on top of the third level, wondering how I got here. If I had to guess, I’d say it was anger.

I briefly open my eyes to see Malik stumbling to the finish line. Monte’s still in shock and trying to stand without falling off. With my head tilted and right arm dead, I mutter, “Go,” through my teeth.

Monte activates his barcodes and uses the air to propel his run. There’s no way he’ll catch Malik, but he can still beat the others.

The second level runners now have more obstacles. Yukio, the first level leader, was doing a fine job, but he was still a minute behind due to the area he chose.

So that’s it? Malik cheats his way to another win. Monte’s indecisiveness leads him to second place and I catch up to third.

No.

The force in my chest evolves into a black hole and I see darkness everywhere. I know how to use it and its properties to my advantage.

As the black dots rain on my skin, time slows down. I want to say I’ve gained some superhuman strength, but I think Seth snuck rapid perception nanobots into my jacket.

Malik’s ten seconds from the finish line and I’m over a mile away.

Once he jumps across the final space, I travel through the black particles.

To Malik’s surprise, I appear in the air, directly in front of him. I’m sure the expression on his face is priceless, but I don’t notice. For a brief second, I open my eyes. Concentrating the data flowing through them, I restrict my vision to a small area surrounding me. So much color bursts into my world, everything looks as though it were hand drawn and digitally painted.

I pinpoint my target—the dog wrapped under Malik’s chest.

When Shiva and I collide with his torso, I scream in agony and he does the same. The connection blows me in the opposite direction, the finish line, and Malik falls backwards on the black flames I created from traveling through the shadows. I lit the entire third level on fire. 

Fifteen

Dr. Vadgama has his hand under my head and he’s shining a light in my eyes. “Thought we lost you there buddy,” he says with a forced smile. Dennis holds a towel tightly with both hands.

In my life, I’ve only blacked out three times. Twice from pain. Judging from Dennis’ watch, I’ve been out for five hours. If it weren’t for Vadgama’s light, I’m not sure how long it would’ve taken me to wake up.

“Not yet. Too many people to kill.” That wipes the grin from Vadgama’s face.

Dennis clears his throat. “Thank you, doctor. You can get back to your room. It’s been a long night.”

“Sure. And I spoke with every nurse that helped. They are all aware of Kay’s blood and know to avoid mentioning it. I’ll have Rohana keep an eye on him for the rest of the night.”

“Thank you. She’s my preference as well.”

Dr. Vadgama walks out of the pool without the pharmaceutical honey sticking to his lab jacket and slacks. It must be covered in some protective material.

Dennis’ phone rings, but he silences it.

“Dad. You need to answer that. Your worthless guards are in trouble.”

“Hello?” He steps out of the pool and allows the honey to ooze down his armor. Why is Dennis wearing armor? He never does that. His suits are always pretty padded, better than most Bevel gear. The gravity rejection activates and the honey is blown away.

On the other line, his guard sobs, “Mr. Colt. Talib, the lion, would like to speak with you.”

“Not interested.”

“Jay Jay has started a revolt and says that he won’t stop until you speak with his friend.”

“
Stop
the revolt. That’s what I hired you for.”

I listen two floors up as the man wipes blood from his forehead. Jay Jay tightens his grip around the officer’s shoulder. “You see, he’s out of his cell and so are the other gladiators. There’s nothing I can do.”

Dennis almost blows up, but I interrupt, “Can you please go help the coward? I’m trying to listen to a conversation between Angie and Monte, and you’re interrupting.”

A concerned expression consumes his face. He looks like a real father. “I’d have to take Carmen with me.”

“Please do.”

He hangs his head for a moment, but walks away without taking a second look at me. Once he’s outside of the door, Carmen stands upright. He motions for her to follow him.

“Mr. Colt,” she asserts firmly. “I can’t take this any longer. My healing abilities are very strong. Please let me work on Kay.”

“He’s already up, and he needs rest. Let’s go.” Though she nearly refuses to leave, she’s too timid to not obey.

With them gone, I turn all of my attention to Angie and Monte. They’re breaking rules, as always. They’re in the dorm’s gym during after hours. No matter how many times we asked him in the past, Monte would never spar with us. But not much has changed. He’s simply watching Angie perform Olympic Presses while sitting on a padded bench.

Monte pats his Afro and tightens a few gears on his armor with his untrimmed fingernails. Casually, he mumbles, “You could just kill him to release your anger. I can’t understand why you and Kode would actually train to get out your aggression.”

“I’m not upset, and I don’t need to kill him.”

“Are you going to tell me why you hate him so much?”

Angie smashes the weight into the ground. Three of the one hundred pound weights shatter. Only one plate will be useable after today. The others are completely scrap.

“No.”

“Just do it.”

“Why is your solution to kill everyone?”

“Makes me feel better, and I get more training than you and your old sparring partner did.”

“Whatever.”

“I like Kay.”

“What?”

Angie growls while stomping towards him in the three thousand square foot room. Only the lights in their segment of the room are shining, but their reflections are still visible on three of the four walls because of the mirrors that outline the gym. The other wall is a window. You can see the street and trams from there.

Monte eases away from the threatening savage as she places her face right in front of his.

“Why?”

From that distance, he can probably feel her breath on his lips. He’s cramped between the rowing machine and a fearsome beast.

Without answering her question, he stands and walks to the rock wall. That creates some distance between them, but she follows a few steps behind. He leans against a steel gate that blocks people from entering the climbing area. Finally he replies, “Reminds me of Kode.” Angie makes a high pitched screeching sound. Monte throws his hands in the air. “What? What?!”

“It’s so confusing. I see it too.”

“He knows stuff, like the things that Tartarus used to tell Kode.”

Angie’s known for her facial expressions. She has a hilariously bad habit of speaking with her eyes. Unless she’s in controlled princess mode, her thoughts are unbelievably easy to read. Her eyes are open widely and her face is stretched. Slowly she confesses, “Tartarus didn’t speak to Kode. They hated each other.”

“Yes he did. How else would Kode know about everything? Check this out, once mom left him locked up in our basement for a year straight. Mind you, he was like seven. So dad would sneak him food, but only when she wasn’t around. After his punishment was over, he came back to the house like nothing changed. He wasn’t crazy or desocialized. He knew everything about new technologies and all my fights with Carmen at the New Orleans Gym. He even knew about
you
. It was like he didn’t miss a beat.”