Within These Walls

Life After Dark: 27 (WTW Sequel)

(1 year later...Not sure where the time goes honestly. Can't believe I started this story when I was in my twenties and here I am ten years later. Wow! 1 more chapter...please excuse grammar errors or plot holes. I'll fix them someday.)

The Blanks-turned-humans clear out in the time it takes me to try to budge Marcus through the exit of the underground cavern. The light of the crystals illuminate the cave still, but it's much dimmer now, pulsing feebly. Still enough for me to see the terror in Marcus's eyes. I kneel beside him and hold his face between my hands, forcing him to look at me. His skin is cold and clammy. "Marcus, please. Listen to me. We have to go. Can you hear me?"

It's hopeless. His eyes are unfocused, incapable of meeting mine. He seems incapable of hearing me through his sudden and inexplicable fear. I stop and straighten up, balling my hands tightly. There's one way to get him to come with me. Mind control him.

The thought makes me recoil in disgust. It's one thing to hijack the brain of a Blank that's trying to kill us, but this is different. I'll be taking over Marcus's mind. Seizing control of it, stripping him of his strength and dignity. Making him do things that he would never allow to happen if he knew. He doesn't deserve that.

There's movement in the corner of my eye and I turn quickly to face the wall. It's the shadow that brought me to this cave. Standing across from me where my own shadow would be, but it's not my shadow. Even more obvious by the fact that it's taller than me, with wide shoulders and narrow hips. But there's no denying its feminine form.

"Who are you?" I ask it.

No words. Instead, the shadow points to Marcus.

It's almost like it's telling me what I have to do. I scowl and shake my head. "No way. I'm not going to mind control him."

The shadow points more incessantly.

"What if I hurt him?" I demand. "The last person who got in his head broke him. I can't take that chance."

Silence. The shadow watches me quietly now.

"Who are you really?"

"Hermes."

The voice is a cold breeze sweeping past my ears, and I flinch in surprise. I wasn't expecting that—the answer or the discovery that my shadow guide and my digital one are one and the same. What exactly is Hermes? Not human, clearly. Unless—what if Hermes is a Mod like me and the dozens of kids who left the stress facility? Does that mean I know her?

"Are you one of us?" I ask.

She tilts her head in question. Then shakes it.

I'm even more perplexed. "Then what are you?"

Nothing.

"You're working for Sam, aren't you? How did you know him?"

"You killed my father."

My chest seizes. I remain quiet, struggling to process what she said. Her voice is more accusatory when she adds, "You were supposed to help us."

"The Ancient we—we fought was your father?"

"Sam Parker was trying to prevent a war. You've undone everything he accomplished."

You've undone everything. That's what the Ancient said to me in his final moments. The words are burned into me like a brand. They won't let go even as I say, "We didn't start this. You've been hunting us for months. Your father is responsible for the death of countless humans at the hands of the Blanks that he created."