Hunting Shadows (Shadows 3)

“But—”

I interrupted whatever Ryan had been about to say. “We don’t know where she is. The odds are she’s either peacefully asleep in bed or she’s at the auditorium. I don’t even know if it’s going to happen now, today or even this week! But I can’t shake the feeling that we don’t have much time. I need you to go to her apartment in case she’s there. As much as I trust my vision, I can’t trust it completely and she could be in danger anywhere.”

I was relieved when Ryan agreed. We parted ways outside in front of the apartment and Simon and I headed towards the auditorium. I had hidden the palladium coin in my closet but I still checked every pocket and hiding place on me to make sure I didn’t have it.

Our pace was quick but my sense of urgency was screaming at me to hurry even more. “Simon, we’re running out of time.”

He didn’t argue how I knew, he just nodded and we both took off into a run. I was breathless when we reached the auditorium, the cold air hurting my lungs, but Simon was barely winded.

The auditorium was completely dark when we opened the door. None of the lights were on and the sun hadn’t risen yet. Simon felt around the wall for the light switches but only succeeded in turning on one light, casting an eerie glow into the auditorium.

“None of these other light switches are working,” Simon said in frustration. “They must be on timers or something.”

“It’s good enough,” I said softly as my eyes scanned every dark corner. Simon took my hand as we walked the perimeter of the auditorium. We were as quiet as possible in case anyone was there, but we were alone.

“Let’s wait where we can’t be seen,” I whispered and Simon followed me as I hid behind the bleachers. I texted Ryan quickly to see if Britney was at her apartment but before I could press “send,” my breath caught in my throat as I heard the distinct sound of a door opening. Slowly, a figure emerged from the darkness and made its way to the fencing strip. Britney was already in her fencing uniform but her mask was in her hand. Her figure exactly matched the one in my vision and I was confused by the difference in her appearance. Her generous chest was now flat and I wondered if she had bound them. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and then slipped on her mask.

She raised her saber and started practicing, feinting and retreating as if she had an imaginary opponent. Simon and I were silent as we watched her, waiting for the moment when her shadow would make itself known.

Suddenly she froze, raising her saber in the air, and that’s when I saw it. Her body seemed to shimmer as an outer skin slithered off her, taking shape into an exact replica of her. I made my move, running out from behind the bleachers and concentrating all my strength into funneling my energy.

The vardoger whipped its head towards me when I rushed out and it froze for a fraction of a second as it stared at me. Before I could blink, it rushed towards me in a flash. I heard Simon yell something but my focus was on the orb of light and energy I was building inside myself. The instant the vardoger crashed against me, sinking into me, I shot out my energy with as much force as I could. I felt myself falling to the ground and was helpless to brace myself, my body weak from the exertion of using my powers. Simon huddled over me, his face a mask of concern, but I could only think of one thing.

“Did I do it?” I asked shakily, trying to gather enough strength to sit up.

“You did it,” Simon said, grabbing my arms as I pushed myself up. Britney was crumpled in a heap on the fencing strip and I struggled to get to my feet.

“We have to make sure she’s okay,” I said in a stronger voice as I felt the disorientation and weakness start to recede.

Before we could get to her, the door crashed open and Ryan ran in looking frantic. His eyes zeroed in on me and he ran straight towards me.

“Are you okay?” he asked urgently, reaching out to touch my arm and completely ignoring Simon.

I nodded. “I’m okay. We just have to make sure Britney isn’t hurt.”

Simon pushed Ryan’s hand away while giving him a hard look. Ryan’s jaw tightened but he didn’t say anything as we walked over to Britney’s prone form.

“Britney,” I said softly, shaking her gently. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at me in confusion. She struggled to sit up and I helped her prop herself up on her arms.

“What the hell happened?” she asked in a hoarse voice. She looked around the auditorium and then back at us. “Did I have an accident? What are you doing here?”

I tried to lie convincingly. “Ryan called you and he got worried when you didn’t answer. He went by your place to see if you were there, and when you didn’t answer the door he figured you would be here. He asked us to come with him. When we got here you were on the floor. You must have fallen and hit your head.” It was a weak excuse but it was the best I could come up with at the moment.

Britney raised a hand to her head and touched it gingerly. She frowned at me. “But my head doesn’t hurt.”

“I guess you’re just lucky,” I said, not knowing what other explanation to give.

Ryan helped Britney get to her feet and she looked at him with renewed interest. “Why did you call me?”

Ryan raised an eyebrow and paused before answering. “I lost my watch and wondered if I had left it at your apartment when I was over for the fencing get-together.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at his excuse but Britney seemed to buy it as she pulled her arm out of his grasp in anger. “I don’t have your stupid watch.”

“Do you remember anything that happened to you?” I asked, wanting to make sure she wasn’t aware of what had just transpired.

“I always come here to practice early in the morning before a match. The last thing I remember was practicing with my saber and the next thing I know you’re hovering over me.” She frowned and looked around, the tension on her face easing when she saw her saber lying on the ground. She reached down to pick it up but yelped in surprise when the blade nicked her finger.

“What the hell?” she said, looking at her bleeding finger in confusion. She looked back at her saber. “How the hell did that get so sharp?”