Shifters (Shifters series Book 1) (28 page)

Suddenly, we hear screaming. Not just someone on a roller coaster, someone on the ground who’s in real danger. She’s screaming bloody murder.

I try to figure out what’s going on. A middle-aged woman in denim shorts and a t-shirt with a baby in a stroller is staring up at the Superman roller coaster.

At the top, the ride has stopped. There’s some sort of technical problem. The thing is, there’s a kid hanging out of the side.

Workers are scrambling, trying to get to the kid, but I can tell this won
’
t end well. The kid somehow got out of his restraints and has fallen. He’s holding on for dear life.

They aren
’
t going to make it in time.

I look at Kai. He mouths “No” at me.

I ignore him. “Hold this,” I snap at Tanner, shoving my bag into his arms.

Then, I take off running toward the ride. I leap forward, clearing the barbed wire-topped fence. I hit one of the metal cross beams hard and hurt my ankle, but I launch myself upward. I bounce back and forth off these metal beams, twisting and writhing as I catapult myself into the sky.

The last beam before the platform, I hit too hard. I launch myself past the kid, who stares at me with an open mouth. He
’
s in awe. Despite the fact he’s still hanging from a roller coaster three stories up.

I land hard on the platform, and the metal makes this hollow echoing sound. Everyone’s muttering and screaming and crying. Some of the riders are pointing to the kid. Or where he was. When I landed, it must have jarred his hold. He
’
s gone.

I peer over the edge and see him falling and screaming. I grab the rail and leap over the edge. I get into a dive, trying to fall faster so I can catch him. When I catch up to him, he grabs onto me like a drowning child. He pushes me down below him, squirming.

I realize if I don
’
t get him and this fall under control, we’re both going to die. We’re going to hit the ground too hard and too fast. We’ll break and splatter on the grass below us.

I yank him back into my arms and scream at him to hold still. He finally freezes in fear. He thinks he’s going to die. About twenty feet before we hit the ground, I manage to aim us toward a beam.

I hit it hard, and my whole body aches with pain. Every bone is hurting so strongly I don
’
t think I will survive. I manage to bounce toward another beam, then another, taking all the jolts and pain on myself.

When I finally hit the ground, the kid rolls away from me, crying. “Mom!”

I
’
m on the ground, rolling around in pain. Suddenly, Kai is there, picking me up. “We have to go,” he says quietly.

“Ugh,” I groan. “Everything hurts!”

“Shhh,” he hisses. “The news is here. They got the whole thing live on camera.”

“I think I
’
m dead,” I groan.

“That
’
s sure to confuse the public. We
’
re on the FBI
’
s Most Wanted for murder, but you risk your life to save a random kid. Weird terrorists, we are.”

I think he
’
s chuckling to himself. While I
’
m dying? That’s so rude.

“Oh, and you
’
re fine,
” he says. “It just hurts because you jarred your bones and muscles and joints and . . .” He continues listing various things I
’
ve jarred, but I stop listening.

I’m only thinking of my pain, my misery. Then, I realize he’s no longer listening, but he’s still speaking. He’s talking to me in a low, quiet, serious voice. Even in my half-conscious state, I know he’s saying something important.

I strain to listen to his words through the haze. “You need to be more careful, Ryland. There are people that care about you. Tanner, Alice, Melinda . . . lots of people! You can
’
t just go throwing yourself into danger like that!”

I realize he’s trying to sneak us out of the park, but he isn
’
t being very quiet anymore. He
’
s angry with me. I can
’
t quite figure out why, but I smile up at him. “You have pretty lips,” I say, nodding.

“What?” he asks, furrowing his brow at me. “How hard did you hit your head?”

“I didn
’
t hit my head, silly,” I grin. “Besides, we both know you think I
’
m cute, too.”

“Do I?” he starts to ask, but the screaming woman rushes up to us as soon as we
’
re through the gate.

“Thank you!” she cries, tears streaming down her face.

The news crew is in my face with cameras and a microphone. “Why did you kill those FBI agents? Why the play? Why save this child if you
’
re a terrorist?
” There are so many questions flying at me.

“I
’
m not a terrorist,” I say, confused. “I
’
m Supergirl.”

Chapter 42

Outnumbered

–TANNER–

Supergirl? That
’
s what she tells them? I swear Ryland goes totally loopy when she Flies. Maybe she could’ve told them we aren’t terrorists? We didn
’
t kill anyone? No! My crazy sister tells them she
’
s Supergirl. Awesome! Maybe now they’ll take us seriously.

Kai’s trying to rush us away from the growing crowd, but they just keep coming. Ryland looks like she’s about to pass out again. That
’
s just perfect. How much time do we have until the cops, FBI, Keepers, or—worse—Shifters show up.

I get we can
’
t hang out here, but I have to say something. “We’re not terrorists! We didn
’
t kill anyone,” I tell the reporter.

Kai gives me a stern look. I know he
’
s right. We should go. We should be quiet. We should try to hide. We should.

“Did you join a cult?” she asks.

Kai shakes his head at me, but I say, “No! We
’
re not in a cult! We are Shifters, but it
’
s not a cult or anything.”

Now, Kai is getting mad and trying to drag me away, but he’s also trying to keep track of Ryland and Kyle and Solé, so he can
’
t stop me.

“What are Shifters?” she asks. “
Who is your leader?
”

“What?” I say to her. “
We don’
t have a leader. It
’
s nothing like that. It
’
s just what we are.”

“
I don’
t get it,” she says, now looking confused.

“It
’
s like being Asian or Spanish or something. It
’
s just what we are,” I tell her.

“There have been reports from social network messages that Shifters and your play have origins in a video game,” she tells me. “Is that true? Is this a publicity stunt?”

Kai’s trying his best to drag me along through the crowd, but the camera and the reporter keep up with us as we walk. “The video game part is sort of true, but it
’
s not really a stunt,” I tell her.

Kyle speaks up, telling her, “We placed the truth into a game, but
this
is no game.” The cameras all focus on Kyle. He holds Sol
é’
s hand like she’s his lifeline. “We’re all in danger. They’re here, and it
’
s not a bunch of kids like we’ve been told. They’re already here, and they’ll stop at nothing.”

“Who wants to hurt you?” she asks. “Where are they?”

“Not us,” he tells her. “They’ll kill you. They’ll kill your family. All of us are in danger.”

The reporter
’
s face grows more serious. “Who are they?” she asks.

I didn
’
t notice, but the whole crowd is now listening to Kyle. “The Shifters,” he says.

“I thought he said you were Shifters,” she asks, pointing back to me.

“I
’
m not, but they are,” he says, motioning to us. I can tell he notices how baffled the reporter is. “I mean the real ones. The real Bane from the game. They’re here. Tell the Tyros to play the game. Level 20. They need to play to learn the truth.”

We finally break away from the crowd, and the reporter watches us walk away. She turns around and starts talking to the camera. I can
’
t hear what she’s saying, but I
’
m sure the Supergirl, cult, Shifter, Bane, and Tyro talk didn
’
t come off crazy at all. Kai is clearly not happy with our little interview time. What does he expect us to do? Just let them make up whatever they want?

When we get back to the car, Kai tells us to get in. We start driving to DC, and Ryland is already back to normal. She seems to be recovering faster than she used to. She didn
’
t even pass out.

Ryland breaks the silence by saying, “That was so much fun.”

“Yeah, it was,” Solé says, trying to be quiet.

Seriously, nobody wants Kai to blow up at them. We all can tell he’s trying to stop himself from going totally ballistic.

“The roller coaster was awesome,” Kai says.

We all bust up laughing. If we weren
’
t seat belted in, we would be rolling around on the floorboards. We laugh and talk about all of the cool stuff we did as the night landscape rushes by the car.

We get back to DC, find a hotel, and pile into the room. I didn
’
t realize how exhausted I was. I grab a quick shower and crawl into one of the beds. I’m startled awake when Devon lifts the covers to curl up with me. I wrap my arms around her and get comfortable before falling peacefully asleep.

“Get up!” Kai says. “We have to get ready.” He walks over to the window and throws the curtains open.

I can
’
t believe it
’
s morning already. I have to shield my eyes from the sun. “Close the curtains. It
’
s too bright,” I complain, but Kai just walks away.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Devon says as she rolls over and wraps her arms around me.

I smile and say, “
Mmmm. Good morning, beautiful.
”

We start to kiss, and Kyle says, “Gross. Don
’
t start that again.”

“Come on guys. We have a big day,” Ryland tells us.

“Hey, if we
’
re going to die today, we might as well enjoy what time we have left,”
Devon tells her. Ryland grabs Devon
’
s foot and drags her out of the bed. Devon lands on the floor, laughing. “Okay, okay. We
’
re getting up,
” Devon tells her, still smiling.

“Yeah, we can see that,” Kyle says.

I quickly grab the blanket off of the floor and throw it over me. “I
’
m gonna get in the shower,” I say as I head to the bathroom.

“Make it a cold one,” Kyle says as Solé let
’
s out a giggle.

“Maybe you should too,” she says, giving him a kiss.

I do take a cold one. The shock of the cold water takes my mind off of Devon, and I finally get it. A cold shower. That makes sense now. I grab some jeans and a T-shirt with my tennis shoes, get dressed, and grab some stuff from the minibar. Then, I wait for everyone else to get ready.

Kai puts on some black jeans and a black T-shirt. Kyle comes out looking strange though. He’s wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a black tie. He looks like Will Smith from that movie except he has Converse tennis shoes on. Weird.

“What
’
s up with the suit?” I ask pointing out the tie.

Kyle shrugs his shoulders and puts on some dark sunglasses.

“It was my idea,” Kai says. “We need the Tyros to know he’s one of them. If anyone shows up.”

“So is that like your uniform?” I ask Kyle.

“Sort of,” he says. “For special occasions and stuff. I always hated it.”

“I think it
’
s hot,” Solé says from the other side of the room, smirking at Kyle.

We all look over, and the girls are standing there. We freeze, looking at the three of them like a bunch of schmucks with our mouths hanging open. Am I the only one that didn
’
t get the memo? There seems to be a theme here. Kai is in all black like the unsung, misunderstood movie hero. Kyle is a Keeper tasked with convincing the would-be protectors of the realm they’ve been focused on the wrong enemy. Me? I’m a plain old kid wearing blue jeans and an Aeropostale T-shirt. If this were a movie, I guess my job would be the unwanted product placement nobody really needs or cares about.

The girls have taken it about a hundred miles farther. They look like superheroes, only without the capes. They’re all wearing spandex workout clothes. Solé is decked out in green and gray camo. It totally shows off her petite shape, ash blonde hair, and silver eyes. Devon looks totally hot covered in the green camo pattern. I mean hot. Her skin and hair stand out against the green texture. Her hair is up, and the sight of her slender neck almost makes my mouth water. She’s so beautiful. I smile as my eyes follow every perfect curve of her flawless shape. She gives me an approving wink.

Then there
’
s Ryland. My sister is decked out in a bright pink skintight top and painted-on black pants. She’ll definitely be the center of attention. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a tight braid. I don
’
t know if I said this before, but my sister is beautiful. My sister is amazing. My sister is a leader. My sister
is
a superhero.

As much as I’ve always hated her for being so perfect and pretty and the center of attention, I really can
’
t imagine being here without her.

–RYLAND–

I braid my hair down the center of my back, trying to keep it out of the way. The other girls both chose to wear camo colors, but that won’t really help. They
’
re going to see us. I might as well let them see me.

I wear these skintight spandex black pants in addition to my hot pink long-sleeved pink spandex T-shirt. I even use that black stuff under my eyes that baseball players wear. I want to look ready for this fight, and a little bit like a superhero. That would be cool.

Devon looks like GI Jane in her camo, her hair in a tight bun, up and out of the way. I wonder why she bothers to wear camo when she has built-in camouflage. She has a serious look on her face as though she’s determined to survive this day or at least ensure Tanner does.

Tanner holds her hand protectively, as though that’ll stop what’s coming. I feel tears spring to my eyes at the thought of him losing her. I think back to what Solé told me. He may lose her today. He may lose her forever.

I look at Kai and wonder if he’ll survive this day. He’s a fighter. He’s strong and confident. He will, I think.

We head downstairs quietly, each clinging to our desperate hopes. This day will determine the rest of our lives. If our lives even continue at all.

We pile into the car again and head toward the Washington Monument. The drive is awkwardly quiet. Despite the banter this morning, we’re gravely silent. I think no one wants to say goodbye, but no one wants their last words to be something stupid either.

When we start getting close, I realize something is strange. Every single available parking space is taken.

Every. Single. One.

Kai
’
s eyes are scanning the roads, the lots, everywhere. Eventually, he must just think
Screw this!
because he revs the engine and hops the curb. Everyone cries out in annoyance and shock. Then we all laugh. It must be the tension.

When we pull up near the Reflecting Pool, my mouth drops. There are hundreds of people here. Some are dressed just like Kyle in
Men In Black
suits and Converse tennis shoes. Some are wearing jeans and t-shirts like Tanner. A few are wearing workout clothes like us girls.

They’re all between twelve and eighteen. There are boys and girls. There are brunettes, blondes, and redheads. Some are in groups, talking to one another. Some are joking and laughing. A few are playing around, running or tackling each other.

One by one they all turn toward our car. It
’
s kind of ominous. Thousands of eyes are staring at us. In this giant crowd of people, there’s no sound whatsoever.

We get out of the car slowly, cautiously. I’m very aware these teenagers know who I am. They know what I am. They may try to kill me. And there are way too many of them. If they attack, we
’
re all dead.

This is like prodding an angry, frightened, injured animal. These kids have been raised to be afraid of us. We
’
re stronger, faster, dangerous, hateful creatures according to what they’ve been taught. They’ve been raised on righteous anger. We’re here to take over their planet. Us asking them for help is absurd.

I realize wearing this was probably not the wisest idea. I’m drawing way more attention than everyone else in my stupid superhero costume. People are staring at me.

Do I say something? Do I make an impassioned plea for their aid? How do I convince them everything they
’
ve ever been told is wrong?

But I don’
t have to. Slowly, like a wave washing over the crowd, all eyes shift to Kyle. He
’
s stepping forward; he
’
s stepping up.

“We were wrong,” he says, his voice booming through the open space. I
’
ve never heard him so loud, so confident.

I see he has grown since our first encounter. He is no longer the shy, nerdy boy who was treated poorly by his psycho military dad. He puffs out his chest when he speaks, confident. He even takes Sol
é’
s small, pale hand in his.

“You trust them?” an older boys asks, pointing at us as though we
’
re poison ivy. They must recognize us—at least Tanner and me. Our faces have been plastered all over the news. I wonder what they thought of my bizarre interview yesterday.

“I do,” Kyle says loudly enough for everyone to hear.

A collective gasp goes through the crowd, and I wonder if we haven
’
t lost them. The murmuring and whispering is like the roar of a lion, threatening and overwhelming. Fear creeps into my soul like an injured antelope who’s waiting for the lion to pounce.

What happens if they decide to leave? What happens when the Shifters show up? I wonder what heaven will be like. At least I
’
d get to meet my mom.

“They
’
ve saved my life. They aren
’
t here to destroy our planet,”
Kyle continues.

“No!” a redheaded seventeen-year-old girl in yoga pants cries. “They
’
re here to take it from us!”

“No, we aren
’
t!” Tanner pleads. “We
’
re here because we were chased from our planet.”

Tanner, like Kyle, has changed so much. He’s serious now, not the goofy jokester brother I knew before. He’s a passionate speaker. He’s grown immensely. Tanner
’
s broad shoulders are more muscular now. He looks like a leader, like someone people will follow.