Phantom Universe Read online

CHAPTER 7: DRIFTER

  15 years old

  Jaden cracks the door open and glances down the hallway; first to the right, then to the left. Summer and Landon stand behind her as they wait to hear the verdict. She finally peeks over her shoulder and whispers, “It’s clear. Remember the plan.”

  They all nod at each other. During their planning, Landon decided it’d be best if he stuck with Jaden to make sure she isn’t setting them up. He voiced his disgruntled opinion of leaving Summer to her own devices, but knows if anything were to go awry that she’ll be able to find the best hiding spot until he’s able to find her.

  Jaden is the first to step foot into the hallway and quickly goes left toward the kitchen. Landon and Summer are next.

  “Be careful,” he whispers to her.

  There are no words to say, even if she did speak. Instead, she gives him a tight hug and takes off down the hallway in the opposite direction. The plan is for Landon and Jaden to distract the Secret Clock Society. Summer has no idea who they are or what they do exactly, but when Jaden speaks of them, she does so carefully. Like she’s seen something she can’t comprehend or form into words.

  Summer flies down the corridor and runs into the end of it where she knows that just outside there are steps that lead to the Captain’s area. Carefully, she peeks out of the door and sees someone she doesn’t recognize. They definitely aren’t part of the crew. The man has short, dark hair, a closely shaven face, and is wearing the nicest looking black coat she’s ever seen. This guy must be part of the Society. She’s not quite sure how she’s going to get past him until her eyes land on a broom that Landon must have left on the deck earlier today. She slips her shoes off to prevent making any noise.

  Thanking the Captain for his pet peeve of never having a squeaky door, she pulls the door forward when the man’s back turns to her. There are a few lights out on the deck which makes excellent shadows for her to hide in. She hugs the wall and scoots along, her fingers outstretched for the broom’s handle.

  The man pivots back around, and she freezes. Her breath is already heavy from running down the hallway, but she doesn’t want to move her hand to cover her mouth. Her lips seal in an attempt to make herself as quiet as possible. Her heart slams into her ribs roughly as the man’s eyes—almost glowing in the dark—rake over the shadows. A bead of sweat rolls down her face as he focuses on a spot next to her. Tears fill her eyes in an effort to hold her lips shut. Her lungs feel like they aren’t receiving enough oxygen, and her muscles are pulled so tight in her current position that she’s waiting for them to rip and tear free from her bones.

  The man shrugs, lights a cigarette, and turns back around. She is so relieved that she almost collapses. She continues to hug the wall until her fingers find purchase on the broom. Most of the cleaning supplies on the Cosmos are old and worn down. There isn’t a broom on the whole ship that doesn’t come apart at the base. This is the first time she doesn’t mentally complain about the crappy cleaning supplies—she’s actually thanking the Captain again.

  This is the hard part. With more grace than she even knows she has, she squats next to the broom. Afraid it’ll make a noise, she gently holds the base and the stick, her lips still sealed to prevent any excess noise. Another bead of sweat rolls down her nose and plops onto the ground. Then she begins to twist the stick until it breaks free from the base. She softly lets the broom lean against the wall. Her heart’s palpitations speed up, and her eyes dilate as she holds on to the wall to help her get up.

  In mid-motion, the man turns around again, tapping the ashes free from his cigarette before he takes another drag, the tip lighting orange in the dark. His eyes trace over the shadows again, but this time he thinks he sees something. She’s so convinced it’s her that she grips the stick with overwhelming force; her fingers ache from it. The man slowly makes his way over to her, though he seems to be unsure of what he’s looking at. When he’s merely a few meters away, Summer raises the brooms stick and brings it down over the man’s head.

  There’s a grunt as he falls to his knees, though he’s still conscious. She starts shaking at what she just did, but knows if he’s given a chance to call out he will. She brings the stick back down on his head with a thwack that reminds her of the whip cutting viciously through the air. Tears burst from her eyes as she hits him one last time before he collapses onto the ground, blood soaking his nice coat and hair. The stick drops from her hands and clanks on the deck, bouncing a little. She can’t believe she just did that.

  Heavy footfalls echo not far away. A woman’s frenzied voice calls out to the man, and Summer’s eyes snap up from the unconscious man. The shadow of the woman extends across the deck. She has no idea where the light is coming from, but it’s insanely bright.

  Summer takes off up the stairs, her footfalls muffled by the fact she isn’t wearing shoes. Each breath brings in the smell of smoke, and she tries not to cough and bring attention to herself. She’s now at one of the highest points of the ship, and up here she can see where the kitchen is at on the other side. She’s so mesmerized by what she sees that she forgets about the woman that is just now rounding the corner.

  The ship is on fire, a glowing beacon in the ocean’s wide abyss. She also notices there is another ship, and it’s partially sticking into the side of the Cosmos, which is much lower in the water than Summer’s ever seen. We’re sinking, she realizes in horror, frozen in place. If the woman looks up she’ll be able to clearly see Summer standing there. A few seconds pass with her mouth wide open, her mind frantically trying to put the pieces together. But all she can think about is Landon and if he’s okay.

  Unexpectedly, arms wrap around her and fling her backwards into a room.

  “It’s me,” Landon whispers when she starts to fight him, a movement she knows would warrant a punishment. She quickly relaxes in his arms and knows she’s going to be safe now. Landon never punishes.

  When she looks around she notices that they are in the room that’s filled with the small boating supplies. Landon reaches into a box and pulls out a life vest.

  “Put this on,” he commands urgently.

  She does as she’s told, but looks up at him questioningly. He’s covered in black ash, and his hair is partially singed. On his left shoulder is a horrifically nasty burn that’s gone through his shirt. After this she quickly looks over him for anymore damage, but he seems to be okay.

  With the vest on, he says, “I lost Jaden. I need to find her.”

  She grasps his lower arms and shakes her head. You can’t leave me again, she tries to convey with her eyes.

  “Listen, Ducky. Ye need to go to the boat that hangs off the side of the ship. Wait there for me, okay?”

  Tears litter her eyes as she hangs her head as it shakes back and forth. He snatches her chin and makes her look at him. “Be strong for me. I know ye—the pepper story is legendary.” He smirks down at her. “Put on that brave face and go!” He points toward the door.

  She gives a tight nod, takes a deep breath, and holds out her chest.

  “That’s it,” he says proudly.

  Summer opens the door, and just outside is the woman. Summer backs away and into Landon who seizes her and moves her to the side. A gun flies up and points at Landon’s head.

  “Give me the girl,” demands the woman in a cold voice.

  “Hell no!” he spits.

  The gun clicks as she holds it steadier in her grip. “Fine. You mean nothing to me—your life is forfeit.”

  Right before she is able to put pressure on the trigger, Summer pushes Landon into the woman. She stumbles back as the gun goes off and parts of the ceiling rain down on them. Landon is able to yank the gun from her grip as he punches the woman in the stomach.

  “Go, Ducky! Run!” he shouts.

  Summer jumps over them and down the stairs. The man at the bottom is sitting up, dazed, holding his head. She kicks him in the gut—though without shoes she’s not sure how much it actually hurts.
He grunts and falls back down to the ground anyway.

  She feels silly wearing the life vest as she rushes towards the side of the ship where the boat overhangs. Before she can reach it something explodes, and she’s thrown overboard. Her hair flings wildly into her face as she flies through the air backwards. It happens so quickly that she isn’t sure how to react, then her back smacks against the ocean water. She plummets several feet into the depths until her life vest yanks her back to the surface. She spits salty water from her mouth and goes into an immediate coughing fit. The water is a little chilly, but it’s not too cold. Her biggest fear? She can’t swim. Silly, she realizes, considering I’ve lived on a ship in the middle of the ocean for most of my life.

  She glances up to the ship that is now halfway in the water, the other half an insatiable, eager fire. The dining table drifts by, and she attempts to swim over to it, all the while thanking Landon for making her put the life vest on. Perhaps he knew the ship would sink. It takes several tries before she is able to get onto the table, but she finally does. She drifts for a while, wondering where Landon and Jaden are and hoping they aren’t hurt. Hoping they’ll find her before she drifts too far from the wreckage.

  To her horror, the ship breaks into several pieces until it’s overtaken by the ocean’s fearless water, swallowing every last inch of the fire with it.