Static (25 page)

I found the same shadow and stepped back into it with
a clear image of the center bathroom in my mind. This time I ran
through the dark, hands out to the sides. My fingertips skimmed the
walls keeping me grounded so to speak. I had to make sure I was
still on the path.

The pulling sensation on my chest returned and I knew
I was close to being back. But then that gleam came again. To my
left this time. It was brighter, as if sensing my presence. As if
signaling me with an SOS.

This time, I couldn't ignore it. I didn't want to. So
I did the unthinkable, the one thing Trevor kept drilling into my
head, and stepped off the path. The second I did that another path
formed under my feet. It led me towards the light.

I took maybe ten steps before the path opened up and
I walked into a cavernous like room. It was still black around me
but the glow from the center cast a green essence outwards just
touching the edges of the dark. I stepped into that green glow and
followed it to its originator.

Floating about three feet above the ground was a
rectangular box. It was the size and shape of an adult coffin. A
clear see-through coffin, that looked like it was made from
glass.

I reached out and touched it. My fingers slid along
its cool smooth surface. It was like polished ice. Running my hand
along its side, I peered into it.

My heart lurched up into my throat nearly choking me.
The small hairs on the back of my neck stirred. It was as if a
spider had crawled its way up my spine.

"No freaking way."

Awestruck, I leaned down and came almost nose to nose
with Merlin the magician.

If it wasn't for the thin ice barrier I would've
touched him. He looked like a wax figure in a museum. Completely
froze in time. His skin was shiny, luminescent really. The green
glow seemed to resonate directly from him.

He was bald with a dark intricate tattoo on his
skull. His eyes were closed, his mouth slack as if in a deep
peaceful sleep. He had on a dark blue tunic, stitched with symbols
all over it. The same symbols I'd seen etched into that wooden box.
It also looked like he was wearing a robe, in the same color and
with the same designs.

His slim hands were folded on his chest and clasped
between them was the handle of a long silver broad sword. The blade
was inlaid with the same markings I'd seen before.

This was the enchanted sword that had sent Merlin
into a coma. This was the sword we needed. It just had to be. But
how did I get it?

Backing up a little, I looked the ice coffin over.
Maybe there was a way to open it. Then I saw it, down the side,
almost at the bottom. A lock. Obviously, I needed a key. Now I knew
without a doubt what was in Thane's box. And there was no way I
could get to it.

Dejected, I slapped the top of the coffin with my
hand. "Damn it."

The sword was within my grasp and I was incapable of
doing anything about it. Thane and the others were going to win.
They were going to get away with destroying both my and Trevor's
lives. I couldn't let that happen. Not now. Not ever.

I dropped to my knees to inspect the lock. Maybe I
could pick it. Reaching into my hoodie pocket, I pulled out a small
screwdriver, a left over tool from working on sound equipment.
Trevor had given it to me to hold onto for him, just in case. This
was a huge just in case.

Lock picking was probably a lesson in patience and
finesse, but I possessed neither of these qualities. So jabbing the
tip of the screwdriver into the lock and jiggling it around was
just going to have to work for me. I didn't have time for anything
fancy.

After a few minutes of futile poking and agitating, I
realized the lock wasn't going to open. Exasperated, I stood and
glared at it, willing it to open. I wouldn't let some fancy locking
mechanism best me. There was too much at stake. It wasn't just
about me either. Trevor was counting on me. I couldn't let him
down. I wouldn't.

As I took a step back, anger and frustration surged
through me making my hands shake. Anger that Thane was going to get
away with hurting me, with killing so many girls. Frustrated that I
was so close to retribution I could taste it on my tongue like
sweet grainy sugar.

Without thinking, I kicked at the lock. The coffin
didn't even move. So, I kicked at it again. And again. And again.
Until I was booting it over and over alternating between my left
and right feet. Chips of ice scattered on the ground with each
blow. The tinkling sound of the pieces hitting the solid floor
echoed all around. It was so loud in my ears I was sure it would
wake the dead. Or Merlin, in this case.

Curious, I stopped kicking and approached the coffin.
Ice shards crunched under my boot heels. I peered down into the
magician's face. It was still slack. No life stirred in his pale
waxy features.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I glanced back down to
the lock. My heart skipped a beat or two as I noticed the metal
clasp was twisted and busted up. I'd broken it. I couldn't believe
it.

Stomach clenching, I reached down and flipped the
latch. The lock was open. I could open the casket if I wanted to.
Swallowing hard, I looked at Merlin, asleep inside. Did I really
want to?

Fear crept upon me but I swallowed it back down as I
slid my fingers into the grooves along the coffin's side and pulled
upwards. I expected it to creak since it was so old but it didn't.
There was definitely a sound, but it was no creak. More like a pop
from a release of pressure. As if I opened a freezer door for the
first time in a hundred years. I also didn't expect the blast of
cold air on my face or the smell that escaped. One of rotting
fish.

After the lid was up, I stumbled backwards, gagging
on the stench. I never thought he would stink so badly. It totally
took me by surprise.

I wiped at my nose, trying to rub the horrid odor
away before I leaned in to inspect the sword. It was long; a broad
sword I guess it was called. Merlin had his frozen fingers wrapped
around the hilt. I'd have to pry them off. Oh Jesus, what if they
broke off while I was touching him? The thought made me queasy. I
rubbed a hand over my stomach hoping to ease its suffering.

Closing my eyes, I counted to three, then quickly
opened them and without losing my nerve, reached in to touch
Merlin. His skin was cold and hard under the tips of my fingers.
For some reason I was expecting it to be oily but thank God it
wasn't. It just looked that way.

As carefully as I could, I dug my fingers under one
of his and lifted it. There came a crackling sound as it moved but
it didn't crack or snap off. Once I had one digit successfully
lifted, that gave me the strength and will to lift the others.
Soon, all of Merlin's fingers were bent back and up, and I could
touch the hilt of the sword.I wrapped my hand around it and sliding
my other hand under the blade I was able to elevate the sword out
of the icy casket.

It was heavy and I wondered how I was even going to
wield it. But at least I had it. I'd worry about using it once I
took it safely back topside and to Trevor.

I smiled down at Merlin's form. "Thanks buddy. You
just saved my life."

His eyes snapped open, forcing me back.

"Nivaine," he breathed on a puff of cold air.

"Shit!" I backpedalled away from the coffin. Dragging
the sword at my side, I sprinted out of the cave. I ran blindly
down the tunnel hoping like hell I was going the right way.

I ran for what seemed like hours, my lungs burning,
until I finally felt the pull out of the shadows. But right before
I came out, I dropped the sword. I collapsed onto my hands and
knees on the cold tiled bathroom floor. As I gulped air furiously,
I looked around. I was alone. Scrambling to my feet, I tore open
the door to find Trevor. He had to come back with me to retrieve
the sword.

The moment I came out of the bathroom, I knew
something was considerably wrong.

The lights were off and the place was empty. It was
as if no one had ever been there to begin with. Except I did see
evidence on the floor that something had gone on earlier. There
were empty drink containers and ripped concert tickets littering
the floor.

I moved through the corridor. "Trevor!" my voice a
little high, nearly hysterical.

There was no answer.

A chill ran up my spine. I had only been gone a half
hour tops, hadn't I? The show should've still been going on. Where
the hell was everyone?

I ran into the main hall and shouted, "Trevor!"

"Where've you been, sugar pop?"

Thane's voice echoed through the hall. I swung around
looking for the source. I couldn't see him in any corner, in any
doorway.

He laughed and it curled around me like a snake. The
sound was close. Then it hit me and slowly, my skin growing clammy,
I glanced up.

Thane was on the ceiling, leering down at me. He
laughed again. "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a
ghost."

"Where's Trevor? What have you done with him?"

"Nothing. Yet."

"I want to see him."

As fast as a blur, Thane landed next to me. Startled,
I nearly fell back onto my ass. But he grabbed my arm before I
could.

"Let me go." I tried to yank my arm away, but it was
pointless. His grip was so tight I was quickly losing feeling in my
hand.

"Did you see him?"

Avoiding his gaze, I looked over his shoulder at the
wall. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do. If you had stayed on the path you
wouldn't have been too late to save your boyfriend."

"Screw you." I spat.

"You're a bad liar, sugar pop."

"I'm not lying."

He bent into me, sniffing along my neck. I clamped my
eyes shut as revulsion rolled through me. "You're a lot like me,
you know."

That had my back up. "Like hell I am. You're a
monster. I'm...I'm..."

He grinned. "Exactly like me. I know you almost
killed that boy back in Boise. You couldn't stop yourself, could
you? It felt good didn't it? Like you were finally truly alive for
the first time."

I cringed away from him. I didn't want to face his
truth. Because some of what he said did ring true. I had liked the
feeling. Didn't I just nearly do the same thing to Trevor?
Twice.

"What do you want?" The tears came. I was so scared I
couldn't stem them. I feared that Trevor was already dead and it
would just be a matter of minutes before I faced the same fate.

"Oh, come now, sugar pop. You were doing so well
there. I could practically smell your rage. Don't start with the
water works. It doesn't suit you."

"What do you want?" I screamed it into his face.

"I want you to leave it alone. I want you to forget
what you've seen, what you know and go away. Don't follow us, don't
think about us." He titled his head to regard me. "If you do that,
I will let you and your boyfriend live."

Movement in the corner caught my interest. I turned
just as Devon, Quinn and Seth dragged Trevor into the room. They
dumped him, like a ragdoll, onto the floor.

He groaned and rolled over onto his back. Even in the
gloom I could see that he'd been beaten badly. His face was bloody
and raw.

"Trevor." I tried to go to him, but Thane held me in
place, pinning me with his fierce gaze.

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because, sugar pop, I kind of like you."

I looked at him then. "You're kidding right?"

"Nope. I don't even like Quinn all that much. But
you, there's something about you, that I just can't not like. Must
be the monster in you." He grinned, and then let my arm go.

I rushed to Trevor's side, touching him. "Trevor.
Jesus." He was worse than I thought. His face was a mass of
hamburger. He could barely even open his eyes. They were both
swollen and purple.

"You should be proud of him," Devon said, "He
wouldn't give you up even after I pummeled his face a dozen
times."

I glared at her. I wanted to rip out her eyes and
feed them to her.

"It wasn't until I threatened to torture your BFF
Chloe and your dear mummy, that he finally told us what the two of
you were up to."

"Oh, baby," I murmured to him. I brushed the hair
from his brow. Not that it helped any. Most of it was matted with
blood and stuck to his skin.

Thane walked over to us, and glowered down at me. "Do
we have an agreement?"

I touched Trevor's chin. He moaned, and moved his
head a little. I couldn't even tell if he was conscious. If he knew
I was there with him. Tears rolled down my cheeks and dripped on
the sleeve of Trevor's shirt. Another moan. But this time, his one
eye opened and fixed on me. I leaned down to his lips, tilting my
ear to him.

His words were barely audible, but I heard him in my
heart. "Don't let them win."

I glanced up at Thane, a rage so pure so searing
nearly scorched my throat as I spoke, "You're going to pay for what
you've done."

His eyes widened; he was either surprised at the
vehemence in my voice or the fact that I bolted up from the floor
fingers swiping at his face. I managed to cut his cheek before he
backhanded me across the face sending me sprawling sideways.

"Sugar pop wants to play," Thane snarled as he
advanced on me.

Fear and a heightened sense of survival had me
sprinting across the floor and crawling up the wall before he could
wrap a hand in my hair. When I reached the ceiling, I had no clue
what to do. I hadn't mastered the floating and sticking to things
trick yet.

Laughing, Thane stared up at me. "You're quick, I'll
give you that."

"Quit messing around," snarled Devon, "and kill her
already."

I looked over at her and saw she'd placed a booted
foot on Trevor's chest to keep him from moving. Fury burned like
acid in my chest. I twisted my hands into fists and sprang like a
grasshopper from the ceiling aiming not for Thane but for Devon.
Hate fueled my aim and made it lethal.