Shadow Soul (Narun Book 1) Page 4

My reassurances falling on deaf ears, I dialled for Tony. It only took two rings for him to pick up.

  “Tony, it’s me. I know I’m the last person you wanna talk to, but you need to listen: it’s about Anita.”

  Tony hesitated but I didn’t have time to wait for him to decide. “Look, I’ve got Aaron, Anita’s son, and I’m taking him to the hospital. Anita’s at home and she’ll be waking up any minute. I need you to call her and tell her to meet us at the hospital ASAP.”

  “Wait, what? What’s going on?”

  I repeated myself, and still didn’t get through to him. Frustrated, I yelled at the phone, “Tony, call Anita. Hospital. Now.”

  Aaron’s cries were rattling my eardrums.

  With little time to spare I pulled in front of A&E. I grabbed the struggling Aaron and ran inside without locking the car. Heads whipped in our direction due to the dramatic entrance. I cut in the queue and interrupted a woman talking with the receptionist.

  “This boy needs to be seen immediately. He has severe abdominal bleeding and—” Aaron’s pupils drew back as his body went limp on my arms. The nurses at the desk stared at me dumbfounded. “He needs surgery now!”

  “Are you a doctor?” The older of the nurses asked, doubtful of my young age, but her hand moved towards the phone.

  “Yes—no, pre-med. I know his medical history. He’s had a fall and he needs help now!” Would they take me seriously? I wouldn’t.

  The fresh-faced nurse jumped from her seat, calling for a doctor. From there, I was impressed by the swiftness of everyone’s actions. A doctor came running in, taking Aaron into his arms. I quickly explained what had happened and where the bleeding was. The doctor shouted instructions for the nurses and disappeared into the restricted areas. Staring at the swinging door in front of me, I sighed in relief before informing the front desk of Anita’s imminent arrival. Then, I fled into the night.

  Choosing a longer detour, I drove back to Anita’s. The house was empty as anticipated. I gathered my few belongings, wrote a note of apology, and—with a heavy heart—shut the front door.

  It wasn’t until I was checked into a motel and behind locked doors that I allowed the raging emotions to pour in, only to shove them aside to another corner of my mind—I was in no mood to process them.

  I gave the small but clean room a scan. Had Anita not been a super-generous employer, I’d be sleeping on the streets.

  I sat on the neatly-made bed and flopped backwards. Instantly, the vibration against my thigh pushed me up. Tony. Pacing along the floor, phone in hand, I talked myself into taking the call.

  Tony’s greeting was official yet somewhat relieved. I waited, holding my breath.

  “I thought you’d wanna know Aaron made it to surgery on time and he’s gonna be fine,” he said. “Anita and David are here with him.”

  He was at the hospital. Anita would’ve filled him in on the details.

  Oh boy.

  “Thanks, it’s good to hear,” I said quietly. The silence felt strange.

  “Soooo… Anita says thanks.”

  I scoffed humourlessly. “There’s no need. I did steal her car and technically kidnap her son.”

  “But you saved his life,” Tony said each word slowly. “The doctors said if he’d been a couple of minutes later he would’ve died.”

  On purpose, I mumbled something barely audible.

  “How did you know?” Tony asked.

  “I had a hunch.” I rubbed my neck with my free hand, knowing the answer would do nothing to satisfy Tony. I was buying time. For what—who knew.

  “Seriously, I’m not an idiot, and I’m not in the mood. The doctor told me word for word what you said and even he doesn’t understand how you could’ve known.”

  I pressed my lips together and sucked them in. I could just hang up the phone. “It doesn’t matter how as long as Aaron’s fine, right?”

  “That’s what Anita said.” Tony scoffed. “She’s letting go of all the other stuff because you saved her son. But it’s not good enough: I want to know how you did it.”

  I weighed the options. I could tell him. I could hang up. Could I trust him with the truth? Was there any point if I was never going to see him again?

  Tony cleared his throat, probably sensing I was about to end the call. “Where are you? I wanna see you.”

  “Why?” Out of instinct, I took a step closer to the door and gave the room a once-over as if Tony was going to float through the walls.

  “Because you have a lot of explaining to do, missy. And not just about tonight.”

  “I don’t have anything to say. Besides, I’m leaving first thing tomorrow.” The line was quiet for a while and, again, I toyed with the idea of hanging up.

  “I don’t want you to leave.”

  “Maybe you should’ve thought of that before telling Anita,” I retorted, and then thought better than to risk riling him up with my tone. “How did you put it all together, anyway?”

  “With a lot of luck and sheer intelligence,” Tony dead-panned. “Anita had the right to know. Plus, you went missing from the pub. I didn’t want you to do anything stupid.” He sighed heavily. “Look, I’m not angry. I just want to see you. It’ll be easier to talk in person.”

  My tongue slid along my bottom lip, left and right. Tony must have some ulterior motive. Anyone with any sense would stay away from me. I only caused pain. I was in pain.

  I clicked my tongue. “I’m at the Bay Horse Motel. Room 34.”

  Chapter 6

  Time dragged like a slug. I debated the possible outcomes of Tony’s visit, heart pumping on overdrive. Why had I agreed to see him? Surely there was no way to salvage the beginnings of my new life in Bridleton. It would be better for everyone if I left.

  Yet I couldn’t make myself run away. Not this time.

  Sharing the truth was a gamble, and I was about to take it.

  My sighs multiplied until I wanted to pull my hair at the sound of one. Tonight would be a milestone: I was letting someone in. Or I’d be spending the night in a prison cell. I might prefer the cell.

  A knock demanded my attention. I tiptoed to the door. Here goes nothing.

  Tony stood in the corridor, hands in his jeans’ pockets. I struggled to read his expression. With a slight nod, he walked past me.

  I popped my head into the corridor. “No cops. Or are they outside?”

  “I see your sense of humour wasn’t a lie. It’s still atrocious,” Tony answered flatly. “Why would I bring cops?”

  “Kidnapping, carjacking, fraud… Need I continue? And Anita said—”

  “No one’s throwing you in jail. You’ll just have to find other ways of paying me back. And society at large.” The tiniest smile flickered on Tony’s face; I drew confidence from it. “Besides, like I said, saving Aaron was your redeeming act—no cops.”

  I pursed my lips and folded my arms in front of me. “Then why did you wanna see me?”

  “I want the truth. I wanna know what drove you to do what you did. You know, whether you really are nuts.” Tony’s smirk came without the twinkle in his eye.

  I perched on the bed, keeping a keen eye on him. He kept his hands firmly tucked away in his pockets, still scanning the surroundings. He reminded me of a TV-movie detective.

  “And once you get your answers, then what?”

  “Then,” Tony shrugged, “we can move on. Or get you some help—accordingly.” I glared at him and he continued, “Come on. The suicidal tendencies... Obviously, you have issues.”

  “I’m not suicidal.” Although, I could see why he’d arrive at the conclusion.

  “Then what are you?” Tony sat on the leather armchair. He leaned on his elbows, facing me inquisitively.

  I took a raspy breath, more for time than lack of oxygen. My gut told me I could trust him, but where would I even start?

  “Start from the beginning,” Tony said, reading my mind. “Tell me who you really are and where you’re from?”

  “It’s…not
that simple.”

  “Right. Well, are you human?”

  I couldn’t help but grin. “Yes.”

  “Good. That’s a start.” Tony surprised me; he was verging on comical. “How many times have you pretended to be in a coma?”

  “I never pretended to be comatose. That would’ve been counterproductive. But, twice I’ve ‘caused’ my body to shut down like that.”

  Tony scrunched his face. “Caused?”

  Here we go. “Let’s just say I know my body very well. I know what kills it and what shuts it down for a nice little nap.”

  Tony brushed his hand through his bronzed hair, his blank expression signalling his need for clarification.

  “I don’t know how to explain it.” I pressed a thumb to the dimple on my chin as I studied the beige carpet. “It’s something I was born with. A special ability, I guess, that allows me to know what’s medically, or emotionally, wrong with myself and others. Like I can read their weaknesses. I don’t know the ‘logistics’ of it; the information comes to me like knowing if I’m hungry or thirsty. Like a hyper-perceptiveness.” I cleared my throat. “It seems to also accelerate the healing process in my body.”

  Tony stared at me blank. I waited.

  “Okay,” he found his voice, “then why’d you use this ability to harm yourself?”

  I squirmed within my skin. How could I make him understand? “To escape from myself, my thoughts. Haven’t you ever wanted to just…sleep?”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of sleeping pills?”

  I cast my gaze to the white ceiling fan, and back to meet Tony’s scrutinising look. There was no way I could explain it. “Sometimes I can’t cope with everything going on in my head. One night I was at a train station, struggling to sleep because I was wrestling with bad memories and I just thought ‘if only I could punch myself to sleep’. So, I did. And it worked.” Kind of.

  Tony cleared his throat, clearly not impressed. “Um, bit extreme. But I’ll go with that for now.” His furrowed forehead was evidence of his struggling thoughts. “Then what’s so bad you can’t bear to live with it?”

  My feet itched to run. I could disappear. I could forget this day. Only…my body didn’t take the hint.

  My toes tapped the ground; I pressed one foot on top of the other. “That’s not an easy question to answer—” Before Tony could object I added hastily, “But I’ll try my best.” Sink or swim. I shifted my weight on the bed, rubbing my knuckles with my fingers. “I need to start from the beginning for this to make any sense.”

  Bracing himself, Tony straightened his posture and inhaled audibly. He leaned backwards and intertwined his fingers.

  “Remember when I told you I’m from out of town? Well, it was a bit of an understatement. I come from a very different world—”

  “You’re an alien?” Tony’s eyes ballooned.

  “Not that different of a world.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m from the Kingdom of Narun. It’s sort of an island, or a whole new continent, if you will.” It was strange talking about home in such a way—out loud.

  “But it’s on this planet?”

  “Yes, on this planet! I told you, I’m not an alien and I don’t want to take over the world or suck your blood for that matter.”

  Tony held his arms up. “Can’t blame me for asking.”

  “Ha-ha,” I retorted dryly. I had to admit Tony was handling this well so far.

  “Why haven’t I heard of this place?”

  “Because, technically, it doesn’t exist. It’s not on any map; you need to know where it is to find it. We’re kind of our own hidden race.” How do you explain to an embryo there’s a whole world beyond the womb? “Anyway,” I continued, in a serious tone. “I left nearly two years ago and have been travelling in your world ever since.”

  “Why’d you leave? And how did you know about us if we don’t know about you?”

  “It’s not important right now. I came because I needed to get away. It all reminded me of—” Goosebumps surfaced on my skin at the thought of him. The pain felt raw.

  I swallowed air. “—someone I lost.” A stain on the carpet drew my focus. I remembered why I hadn’t chosen the truthful route before—it was uncomfortable, unbearable.

  “Is that the reason for the comas? You’re trying to forget someone?”

  “Yes.” I stood up, my back to Tony. “So, now you know.”

  “Whoa, you’re not getting away that easy! Get back here, and don’t you dare give me that bulletproof exterior. I want the whole story, the whole shebang.”

  Reluctantly, I sat back down. “I told you. That’s why I’m running: I want to forget everything.”

  “Right. Well, no offence, but that sounds a bit weak.”

  I wanted to growl at him. In fact, I could have thumped him. What does he know about loss?

  “Now you’re angry,” Tony observed.

  “Well spotted.”

  “But why? You’ve not really explained anything. So, you’re from some secret place and you’re beating yourself up because someone died. You’re holding back.” Tony was his usual straight self. And he was right. I wasn’t giving him the whole story.

  I raised the corners of my mouth as a sign of peace. “It’s just not easy. I haven’t told anyone about any of this. Ever.”

  Tony reached out his hand and clipped me gently on my arm. “Sorry, kid.”

  “Ask me something. It’s easier to answer questions.”

  “Explain Aaron. How’d you know about him?”

  Keep up, Tony. “Like I said, I know people’s weaknesses. It’s mainly physical things as it helps in combat. For example, your left arm is weaker than your right.” I paused to scoff as Tony compared the bulk on his arms. “And if I’m familiar with the person I can better read their emotional weaknesses and specific medical issues. I’m not sure how it works exactly. It’s a gift.” Or a curse.

  “Right.” Tony sucked in a breath. “First of all, I’m going to ignore the ‘weak arm’ comment…but I still don’t get it. Are you a superhuman or something?”

  “Don’t be daft. It’s just a gift, a talent.”

  “Can everyone from, err, Nauru, do that?”

  “Narun,” I corrected. “No. But some others have different sorts of gifts and skills. Things to help them in battle, like enhanced speed, or being able to track or… I don’t know, skills.” I sucked my lips in; other people’s talents weren’t for me to reveal.

  “You keep mentioning battles.” Tony frowned. “Are you in constant war in this place?”

  “Not in so many words,” I stalled. “The atmosphere is unsteady, explosive. Life used to be more peaceful, but when I was a toddler, the Queen was murdered by an enemy tribe and things changed. Attacks became frequent and the Crown Prince had to be placed into hiding as they feared for his life—to this day he remains the Lost Prince.” I took inventory—the depth of the crease between Tony’s eyes, his rigid posture, the straight line of his mouth. “Things have calmed, but the threat of open war is always there.”

  Tony drew a circle in the air with his finger, encouraging me to continue.

  I took a deep breath. “We’re an old tribe of people defending our kingdom and its values. Most of our people are ‘normal’ in your sense of the word—families, traders, farmers, teachers—but some of us have been born with a special skill. Those of us become part of the Royal Guard, defending our King and Land. We’re set apart as children and trained to defend the Kingdom either as a Defender, an Attacker, a Tracker or an Advisor, depending on our natural gifting.” I paused to see if Tony was following or freaking out. It seemed safe to carry on.

  “When we reach level three training, most of us are paired with a partner of the opposite gender, someone destined to complement our gift.”

  Tony’s face twisted like someone had placed a bucket of fish guts in front of him. “You get married?”

  “No. You train together and become partners for life; it makes you stronger to fight. The pa
ir normally serves for a period of time and then they step down, start a family, and train the younger ones.” The textbook approach worked: I could distance myself emotionally.

  I leaned back to get a bottle of water from the bedside table.

  “Sounds like something from a movie. You better not be playing me, Milla.” Tony’s disbelieving look spoke volumes; I assured him I was telling the truth. He scratched his beardless chin, digesting my words, and I allowed him the time, my pulse steady.

  “Let’s say I believe you,” Tony said slowly, eyes shut but his forehead smoothed. “So, what was your role?”

  “I was a Defender.” I ignored the pang in my chest.

  “Really?” He perked up. “Does that mean you can do all that Kung Fu stuff?”

  A corner of my mouth rose involuntarily. “I can handle myself.”

  Tony shuffled forward, begging me to show him what I could do. I shot him down. Metaphorically.

  “I won’t believe you unless you show me.” He was clearly disappointed—and annoyed at my indifferent shrug. “Wait, what about your partner?”

  It took the time of me lowering the bottle onto the floor for Tony to cotton on.

  “Right. He was the one who died. Sorry.” He cringed. I studied the stain on the floor again. Hearing someone say it out loud twisted the knife sticking in my chest.

  Tony came next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I shoved the pain down back into its pit.

  “It’s okay,” I lied and straightened against the weight of his arm. “Now you know. My strange, little secret. Any more questions?”

  “Tons.” Tony laughed. “But I’ll leave them for another time.” He tightened his grip on my shoulder before releasing me.

  “What happens now?”

  Tony opened his mouth, and shut it, taking a moment. “Nothing has to change. I can keep your secret, if you want, and we can pick up where we left off.”

  That simple? Really? “What about Anita and her family? And Jill? And—” The list would be too long.

  Tony examined the room again, peeking into the bathroom. “You best stay away from Anita’s family. They live at the outskirts, anyway, so you’re unlikely to bump into them. As for Jill, I can’t really keep this from her, not without it causing problems.”