Thunder: The Shadows Are Stirring (Thunder Stories Book 1) (6 page)

“The older people get, the more distant from the possibilities they become. It’s like our brains harden over time. As infants, we can still see angels, can you imagine? We’re still a part of the most innocent of layers. By the time we reach adulthood, we’re firmly planted here.”

“What happens to you then? I mean, what’s the whole Bender thing about? That’s what we are, right? Is it normal to be able to Bend, or whatever?” Jamie could ask another hundred questions, but Callie interrupts.

“Good questions.” She winks at him. “First of all, a Bender’s job in life is to create balance in the, um, physical world, I guess you’d say. The youngest of us can do this simply by practicing those random acts of kindness you hear about, simple things like smiling at someone new, helping out in some way. Anything to put positive vibes out there. Benders don’t ever have to enter the layers if they don’t want to, because of that ripple effect. The positive vibes out here help keep the Sliders at bay, but can’t destroy them. In order to do that, you have to enter the Shadow Layer and strike at the beasts themselves.”

I interrupt. “What happens if you
do
attack them in our world? Wouldn’t that make it easier for us—I mean, not to have to do all the Bending stuff?”

“Well, remember Sliders need a host in the physical world. All you’d be doing is killing or attacking the host, and the essence of the Slider would just be able to reattach to someone else.

“Interventions of a non-violent sort can produce a separation-effect between the Slider/host position, and with this the human typically fares far better. No injuries. This is where counselors, or people with similar professions, play an active role. Counselors who are Benders can be quite effective in these situations—for the health of the human, but not the destruction of the underlying beast.

“Sliders themselves have no qualms about destroying humans. Though at our layer they are only strong enough to latch onto a host, through the host they can inflict all manners of pain and destruction. It is not unheard of for them to manipulate their host to purposely attack Benders.”

I can see this making sense to me at some point. I nod for her to continue, while gnawing my bottom lip. It’s still weird information, but Callie’s explaining it well. She’ll be a great teacher when she graduates.

“Back to what Jamie asked, though: Yes, we are all Benders here, and, yes, it’s common. It’s just not a trained thing for most people. Like, people will describe themselves as glass-half-full types, and say they made it through their situations because of positive thinking. A condensed population that seems to have a high Bender count, so to speak, is in the foster system. Young kids who have faced a lot and are making it through and becoming stronger for it.

“That’s kind of where the eighteen-and-older group comes in. We try to get jobs where we can continue to help the cause. We have people placed in various foster agencies who are good at sensing potential, and they can place these kids with Shifters like Gunther. And I’m training to be a teacher, but I have another role, too. Which is why I’m here tonight, isn’t it?” Callie runs a hand through her hair, making it stand up in the back. She quirks an eyebrow at Gunther.

“Yes. You see,” Gunther regards both Ethan and Callie, “there was a Slider on them before they’d even become trainees. I took them into a layer of time after their experience in the Grey, to verify my original concerns. That car accident—I couldn’t be sure at first if the Slider had been going after the children or their parents.” Gunther turns his head back to us. “They were still active, you know—your parents? Doing all they could on this level of things to block as many Sliders as possible from leeching on …. And that amount of positive essence from a trained Bender is always a target. Anyway, with two attacks, I feel my theory is the correct one.”

Callie swallows and Ethan blows out his breath, fluttering the shock of hair across his forehead. He doesn’t appear particularly happy.

“And, to us, this means what?” I ask, bewildered by all these terms and ideas.

Gunther nods his head at the older two kids, as if giving one of them permission to speak. Ethan rubs at his jaw. “It means we begin to train you.” I can’t read the expression in his eyes. And there I go staring again. Urgh!

“What for? Didn’t you just say our whole time stranded on the mountain was our training, sir?” Sam eyes Gunther for confirmation, but it’s Callie who responds.

“Apparently that was just your initial step.” Callie clears her throat. “After my time on the mountain, it was determined I had been trained to teach a Seeker.

“A Seeker is rare; we haven’t needed one since the early 1940s, during World War II. It’s a huge deal to need one now. Seekers are only needed when there’s a tear in the Barriers, between the layers. It’s the Seeker’s job to find the rip and seal it. The problem is, a hole means free access for the Sliders; they will do anything possible to keep it open.

“We’ve all been afraid of something like this. There has been a rise in violence, especially among teenagers and young adults, who are extra susceptible to the Sliders, but also in the world at large. This, coupled with Owen’s arrival and the results of my training, and Ethan’s, points to the conclusion of there being a rift somewhere. With these attacks on you guys, one of you must be a Seeker.”

 Gunther has been nodding his head to these details, like a pleased teacher over a prized pupil. “Well said, Callie, you’ve nailed it.”

With a heavy pause, Gunther observes the three of us in turn, reading our faces. I squirm as I feel his gaze penetrate even deeper and I realize it’s not our faces he’s reading. I feel like he can see every thought inside of me and I hope they do him justice. His voice is serious when he states, “Olivia Grace, it is you who is marked as the Seeker.”

Before I even have a chance to register the full meaning of his statement or question the validity of it, Gunther has moved onto my brothers. “Sam—you’re harder to interpret, and it may be you’ll grow into another role. At the moment, you read as a Leader; someone surefooted and honest. Jamie, I get a definite Healer vibe from you.”

While I’m trying to figure out why Gunther would think I’m this Seeker person, the boys seem to take their role designations in stride. “What’s the deal about Owen’s arrival? How does he add to the rift theory?” Sam questions.

Gunther reaches his long arm over and ruffles the red hair. “We’re almost sure he’s a Shifter. We manifest our abilities around the age of seven, in human years. That’s the age of reasoning, when one can exhibit empathy for somebody else’s perspective. So much stirring of the dark shadows usually produces a Shifter. Our way to help find balance, you understand?”

“Then, what about Ethan?” I ask. “How do you come into this?” I stare across at Ethan who seems to be bracing himself, but he holds my eyes.

“I’m the Guardian.”

I look at him without comprehension and he reads the confusion on my face.

“I protect the Seeker with my life.”

Oh.

Chapter Four: Training

(ETHAN)

C
RAP
.

Ever notice how you can have all sorts of ideas and plans ready to go, and then life knocks you upside your head and hands you something different? That’s my story.

Well, up until I was five, it was actually my dad knocking me upside my head. Then it was my mom’s boyfriend until I was eight and started running away. At ten, I stopped running and figured out how to strike back. I got good with that until the folks decided to move without letting me know.

 I was put in a group home with some real jerks who liked to beat on the youngest and smallest of the bunch. I did what anyone with any sense would’ve done: I made sure they knew better than to try it again. Ever. Fighting down like that is stupid. What does it prove if you pound on someone who can’t fight back?

A social worker took notice and the punks disappeared. Later, I was sent to the Ol’ Man’s.
That
was a good knock upside my head. Like opportunity, you know? It shook me at first, realizing he was for real. Gunther Ryland actually cares about people like us, all chewed up and spit out. I’ve always known there’s something bigger and better out there, I just didn’t know if I’d ever find it.

I was on the mountain for nine months, and when I came back, the Ol’ Man was there waiting for me. Like he’d known I’d make it through, that I’d had more left over inside me than what had been beaten out.

I knew at that point what my role would be one day, but I figured I’d have more time to prepare. With the Ol’ Man, preparation is synonymous with education. No matter how long you stay with him, an education is demanded. Our one choice about it is whether we’re homeschooled or enrolled in the public system. I opted to stay here, so I can help out with the little guys who show up.

My coach is a tough Bender who’s either trying to make me achieve greatness or is simply trying to kill me; now that Olivia has shown up we’ll be training together. Our survival is dependent on our ability to know each other’s moves, thought processes, and strengths and weaknesses. I may stand between her and death, but she sure as heck needs to know how to protect herself.

The morning of our first combined session, Olivia agrees to meet me in the fields behind the house. We’ve decided to use the real world as our practice grounds for a while, rather than chancing another run-in with the Slider. I don’t know anything about Olivia’s abilities, but I plan to learn right now.

As I walk down the slope, I see her standing alone, facing away from me. She’s cut her hair, but it’s still long enough to be braided. Her clothes are form-fitting: yoga-type pants and a snug tee, which skims her slim hips. Easy on the eyes for sure, but I know she thought it through for tactical reasons. Loose clothes are easy to grab. I glance down at my own choices, sweat shorts and a tee. I check the surrounding area; it’s clear of rock and debris. Soft tall grass. We’re good to go.

I approach from behind, moving without sound. When I’m within an arm’s reach, ready to spring, I notice a slight twitch in her back. It’s all the warning I get before her elbow slams back and connects with my stomach. She’s a tiny thing, with a runner’s narrow body. She can’t be taller than 5’3”, but she’s strong and has defined muscles. I let my body move back with the blow and grab her upper arm with one hand. She pivots, trying to find an advantage. Not wanting to hurt her, but needing to see what she can do, I push her away from me. She contemplates me warily, but I see a spark of challenge in her golden eyes and the corners of her lips lift in a smile. Oh, man.

We circle each other, watching for a giveaway movement, and then we go for it. Fists, elbows, knees. No holding back. I don’t know who draws first blood, but it doesn’t stop us. We twist and flip, using our momentum to our own advantage. Her heel almost reaches under one of my guards, but I get a good jab at her shoulder and know I’ve deadened her arm. I hear her mutter something about a dirty Bugger before she aims a knee at an area I’d prefer to keep knee-free. She ends up on her back with me pinning her wrists above her head. I get a whiff of vanilla, and once again I’m staring into her eyes. She clears her throat and smiles through blood and dirt. Hmmm. Not too bad. I shake my head as I roll off of her. Focus would be good.

“You know,” she says, spitting blood into the grass next to her, “aren’t you supposed to be my Guardian? Because that didn’t exactly feel protective.”

I throw back my head and laugh. “You were ready for me. How’d you know?”

She levels me with a look. “Dude. I just spent a year and a half on a mountain with two brothers. That was such a boy thing to do.”

“Huh, well … it taught me what I needed to know, didn’t it?”

“And that is …?”

“You’re good, but you’re not going to survive in hand-to-hand combat without a weapon. How are you with a knife?”

Turns out she’s pretty good.

As we limp back through the field to give Jamie his first practical lesson of the day, Olivia observes me from the corner of her eye. “Would you do it?”

“Do what?” I stop walking.

“Give your life so I can finish my job.”

Without hesitation, I state, “Yes.”

“But why?” She sounds shocked. “You don’t even know me. What if I can’t find the tear? What if I can’t seal the rift? I don’t want anyone to have to
die
for me. I’m a month from fifteen. I can’t even drive yet, but I have the potential of screwing the whole world over. Doesn’t that sound wrong?”

 I kick myself. Not even fifteen yet? Sure, at sixteen I’m not much older, but still. I shake off my wandering thoughts and answer. “First, it is in you. That’s why you’re the Seeker. No one else alive today could do the job but you. That’s all I need to know. You’re it. The One. If I can buy time for you to complete your task, it’s worth it. This world needs you, humanity needs you.

“People are going to die no matter how it pans out—it’s what people do, it’s a part of living. Anyway, you’re seeing it from the wrong angle. It’s not that you can potentially screw us all; it’s more that you have the capability of fixing it all. And that’s pretty amazing.”