Shadow Girl (7 page)

“This is our special hideout,” Aunt Janet said, closing the door behind her. She wore a long black coat over black leggings. Her dark eyes sparkled in the dim light. “Your uncle Will doesn’t know anything about this part of our lives.”

I gaped at her. “You too?”

She nodded. “I was the Gray Avenger—until I retired.”

My aunt stepped to the far wall and pulled open a cabinet door. She lifted out a large book, bigger than an encyclopedia. The cover was black leather. It appeared to be heavy. She had to hold it in both hands.

“We couldn’t reveal anything to you until tonight—a night without a moon. The night of shadows. So it is written in the
Book of Fates
. Has Red Raven told you about the book?” Aunt Janet asked.

“Not yet,” Jada said. “Selena has been fighting me. She refuses to understand—”

“This is all insane!” I blurted out.

Holding it in two hands, Aunt Janet raised the book in front of her. And as she lifted it, it began to glow. A yellow-red glow, like fire.

“It isn’t crazy, Selena,” she said softly. “This is the
Book of Fates
. Your future is written in this book.”

I stared at the glowing book as if hypnotized. Bright yellow and red sparks flew off the cover and circled my aunt until she glowed too.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Could all this really be true?

“I—I don’t understand,” I murmured.

Jada pulled two folding chairs from against the wall. Pushing her cape aside, she sat in one of them. She motioned for me to take the other.

Aunt Janet stood in front of us, glowing in the light of the huge book in her hands.

“We come from another world,” she said in a whisper. “Our fate is different from those we live with. We have a job—to protect the innocent. To protect people who don’t even know we exist.”

“But my mom—” I blurted out.

“Your mom had to cut herself off from you,” Aunt Janet said. “She cannot be involved. The
Book of Fates
decreed it. Your mother cannot be involved in your training. Your friends had to be instructed to stay away too.”

I swallowed. “You mean Beth—?”

Aunt Janet nodded. “Your future is to become
Shadow Girl. It is written in the
Book of Fates
. But you must discover your own powers. You must test yourself and discover your own courage.”

Jada snickered. “
What
courage?” she muttered. “She’s a total wimp.”

“It will take time,” Aunt Janet said softly. The sparks flew around her. “We have tested you, Shadow Girl. So far, you have not done well.”

“Tested me?” I asked. “You mean—”

“Cindy,” Jada said. “Her story about being robbed—it was a fake. You were supposed to show some courage. Instead, you turned green and nearly lost your lunch.”

I jumped to my feet. “But—I don’t want to do this!” I cried. “I’m not brave. I—I—I don’t
want
to do what it says in that book!”

Aunt Janet raised the glowing book higher. “You cannot go against the
Book of Fates
,” she said. “Even if it is not what you would choose.”

Jada jumped up too and spun me around to face her. “I didn’t choose to be Red Raven!” she cried. “It was decreed in the book. My whole life, I wanted to be Shadow Girl. I didn’t choose to be your enemy—but I am!”

Aunt Janet let out a long sigh. She returned the book to the cabinet. The room grew darker.

“Yes, our family is now divided,” she said sadly. “Shadow Girl and Red Raven are enemies forever.” Her voice broke. She turned away. “So unfair. So
unfair…But we have no choice. We must obey the book.”

She strode quickly to the door.

“Aunt Janet?” I started toward her. But Jada pulled me back.

“Use your powers well, Shadow Girl,” my aunt whispered. She vanished into the darkness.

“But—but—” I called after her.

Jada gripped my arm hard. “She can’t talk about it. She’s too upset.”

“About you and me?” I asked.

Jada nodded. “Mom couldn’t tell you the rest of the story,” Jada said. “She’s too upset to finish it.”

I locked my eyes on Jada’s. “What’s the rest of the story?” I demanded.

She stared back at me for a moment. Then she said, “It is written in the
Book of Fates
that you will
kill
me!”

“Nooooooo!” A cry escaped my throat.

I pushed past Jada and tore out of the room. I had to get away from her. Away from this house.

My head felt about to split open. Jada’s frightening words repeated in my brain until they were a crazy jumble.

I ran through the streets, the cape fluttering behind me. I wish I could fly away from here, I thought. I wish I could fly away and never see these crazy people again.

“Whoooooa!” I let out a startled cry as my feet left the ground—and I took off. The cold wind blew against my face as I flew above the street.

“Oh, wow! They told the truth!” I exclaimed. “I—I have powers! I’m flying!”

I gazed up at the stars and soared higher. The icy air stung my cheeks, but I didn’t care. This was incredible!

My cape stretched out behind me, billowing in
the wind, lifting me higher still. I was afraid to look down. Afraid that I would tumble from the sky if I did. But I slowly lowered my eyes and gazed at the streets below. At the houses that dotted them in a perfect pattern. Everything appeared so unreal from up here. So amazing!

I turned and flew over Jada’s school, and a few seconds later, I landed in Jada’s front yard. “Ow!” I cried out in pain as I dropped to the hard ground on my elbows and knees. My heart pounding, I scrambled into the house.

I sneaked upstairs. My whole body shook. I had to get out of that costume. I stuffed it into the secret room. And changed into jeans and a sweater.

I had to talk to someone. But who? I knew I couldn’t reach Mom. And I couldn’t call Beth.

I needed a friend. But I didn’t have any friends in this new town.

Then it hit me—Stan. Maybe I could talk to him! Maybe he’ll have an idea about what I should do.

I looked up his address in the phone book. Then I grabbed my coat and ran out the front door.

It was late. Most of the houses on the block were dark. The air felt heavy and wet. No moon or stars above.

As I neared Stan’s house, the neighborhood changed. The houses were run-down and closer together. Front yards were patchy, cluttered with litter and junk.

In an empty lot, I saw three or four men huddled around a trash-can fire. Across the street, a car had been stripped of its tires, the top slashed open.

“Hey, girl—” someone shouted from behind me. “Got any change? How about a dollar?”

I didn’t turn back. I started to jog, pulling my coat closer around me.

Maybe this was a mistake, I thought. Stan’s neighborhood is really scary at night.

I finally found his house, a small square, dark-shingled house next to an empty lot. Railroad tracks crossed the street at the corner. A two-pump gas station—closed for the night—stood across the street.

I knocked softly on the front door, afraid his parents might be asleep. After a few seconds, Stan pulled the door open. His eyes bulged with surprise. “Selena?”

“Hi. You busy?” I asked.

He pulled the door open wider. I stepped inside. The air was hot and smelled of stale bacon. The wallpaper was dark and had a big stain on one wall.

“I was setting up a new computer,” Stan said. “Come this way. My room is in back.”

I stepped over a hole in the carpet and followed him to the back of the house. “Are your parents home?” I asked, peeking into the tiny, dark kitchen.

“No. Dad has two jobs,” Stan replied. “So we never see him much. And Mom works the late shift at the box factory.”

“My mom works nights too,” I said.

At least, I
thought
she did. I suddenly wanted to see her so badly. I had to hold back a sob.

Would I ever see her again?

Stan’s room was long and narrow. Rock music posters were tacked over one wall. He had a computer on his desk, surrounded by a dozen cables.

He motioned for me to sit down. “What’s up?” He stood over his desk, hooking up the monitor.

“I don’t know,” I said, sighing. “It’s been such a weird night.”

He picked up the computer mouse. “Now, where do you think you attach this?” He scratched his head.

Does Stan know about Jada’s secret identity? I wondered. Does he know any of this superhero stuff?

The other day, when we explored the secret room together, he didn’t seem to know anything about the Shadow Girl costume.

I had to find out what he knew. “You know that black costume we found in the hidden room?” I started. “I’ve been thinking about it. Did Jada wear it last Halloween?”

He scrunched up his face, thinking hard. “No. I think she was a witch last year. Yeah. With a big green wart on her nose.” He chuckled.

He doesn’t seem to know anything at all about Shadow Girl, I decided. “Do you ever read comic books?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I know Jada is into them. But I never was. Even when I was little.”

I can’t talk to him about Shadow Girl, I decided. Jada hasn’t told him anything. And it’s probably supposed to be a secret.

I came all this way because I needed someone to talk to. And I can’t talk to Stan.

I suddenly felt totally alone. Totally alone in the world.

Stan pushed the mouse cable into a connection. “Yesss! Victory!”

He stood up, smiling. “Hey, Selena, did Jada tell you about the party Saturday night?”

“Party?”

He nodded. “She probably forgot. She is having a party at her neighbors’ house across the street. The Carvers are away all weekend. And they gave Jada the key to their house to take in the mail.”

“And so Jada is throwing a party in their house?” I asked. “That’s terrible!”

Stan laughed. “The Carvers will never know. We’ll clean up everything before they come home.”

I frowned at him. “But why is Jada doing it?”

He shrugged. “Why not? Because it’s cool.”

I climbed to my feet and pulled on my coat. “I’d better get going,” I said. “If my aunt and uncle knew I was out this late, they’d have a cow!”

“Guess I’ll see you at the party Saturday,” Stan said, following me to the front door.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. If my dear cousin invites me!”

I said good night and stepped back into the cold, damp night. I felt icy sprinkles on my head, so I pulled up my hood.

I took a few steps along the sidewalk. A garbage can had overturned, spilling a mound of garbage over the sidewalk and street.

I jumped over it and started to walk quickly away.

I had gone less than half a block, when I heard a shrill, high scream behind me. A scream of pure terror.

A chill of fear ran through my body.

I spun around.

And heard another cry. From the darkened gas station across the street.

Through the misty rain, I saw four or five boys. At first I thought they had formed a huddle. Like a football huddle.

But then I realized they had another boy in the middle. A boy in a striped ski cap. The boy who was screaming.

I took a few timid steps closer.

The boys were dressed in black leather and denim.

Squinting through the mist, I saw their arms swing.

Heard the
thud
of fists.

The boy in the ski cap screamed again. A cry of pain.

The others kept him surrounded. Punching. Swinging their arms hard. Grunting loudly with each thrust of a fist.

I watched helplessly as the boy sank to his knees on the wet pavement.

As soon as he dropped, they swooped down on him. They grabbed him by the arms and started to pull him behind the gas station.

My heart hammered in my chest. I felt sick. I pressed my hand against my mouth and glanced around frantically, searching for a policeman. For anyone who could help.

But the street was empty.

“Hey—stop!” I called out. “Leave him alone!”

I didn’t think. I didn’t plan to shout at them. The words burst from my throat.

Two of the boys turned away from their victim. Pointing at me, they started to run.

“Get her!” one of them yelled.

And then all four of them were tearing after me, running hard, leather jackets flying behind them, shoes stomping the pavement.

Why did I do that?
I asked myself.

Did I really think I was some kind of superhero?

My panic froze me in place. I was going to get pounded like that boy.

“You’re in trouble now!” a hoarse voice cried.

I sucked in a deep breath. Wheeled around. Forced my legs to move.

“Ohh!” I cried out as I ran straight into a metal trash can.

The can clattered onto its side with me on top of it.

I hit the pavement hard. Tried to roll away so that I could climb back to my feet.

Too late. Too late.

Running hard, swinging their arms, the grinning boys closed in on me.

On my stomach, scrambling to stand up, I slid in the disgusting garbage.

I turned when I heard the squeal of tires. A black SUV came wheeling around the corner.

The driver must not have seen me down on the ground. The big car roared by, inches from my out-stretched arms.

Gasping in fright, I struggled to my feet.

And stared at the empty street.

The four boys had vanished. The squealing SUV must have scared them off.

Were they still nearby? Were they watching me? I wasn’t going to take that chance.

I pulled my hood back over my head and started to run home. With every step I took, I grew angrier.

Those creeps. Did they think they could beat up anyone they wanted?

Well, I’m not going to let them get away with it, I decided.

Aunt Janet’s words echoed in my head: “
Use your powers well, Shadow Girl
.”

The costume. I needed the costume.

I didn’t know what powers it held. I knew only that without it, I was helpless.

The freezing rain started to come down harder. I ran back to Jada’s house, my shoes splashing up puddles on the slick pavement.

Uncle Will’s car was in the driveway. I crept silently into the house and upstairs to the bedroom. Jada was asleep with the lights on, lying on her side, her mouth open slightly.

I made my way silently down the hall. Into the secret room. A few seconds later, I was pulling the cloak around me, sliding the pendant around my neck, tugging the mask over my face.

I stopped on my way out the secret door. Am I really doing this? I asked myself. Am I really going out as Shadow Girl?

I felt excited and terrified at the same time.

I hurried back outside. The cold rain had stopped, but a thick mist hung over the streets.

I turned and began to trot toward Stan’s neighborhood. As I moved through the dark, silent streets, I realized I didn’t know anything about my powers.

I knew I could fly. But I didn’t exactly know how.

Am I super strong? I wondered. Does the cloak make me invulnerable?

I stopped in the middle of the street. My breath
puffed up in front of me in little clouds. Beneath the cloak, my whole body was trembling. I’ve never been this terrified in my whole life, I thought.

Too late to turn back. Too late…

The gas station stood just ahead of me. Pushing the cape behind me, I leaned into the wind and ran up to it.

I saw the striped ski cap lying beside a gas pump. I picked it up. And then I saw the boy, still on his back, on the pavement beside the side wall.

As I knelt beside him, he groaned and opened his eyes.

His dark hair was wet and matted to his forehead. He had a deep cut in one cheek, and dark blood had caked under his nose.

He groaned again, holding his side. He blinked several times. When he finally focused his eyes on me, he gasped in fright.

I leaned over him. I brushed back his hair with my glove. “Don’t be afraid,” I said softly. “I’m your friend. I’m Shadow Girl.”

The words sounded so funny to me. So strange. As if another person were saying them.

He squinted at me. “My ribs…” he moaned.

“Can you stand up?” I asked. “Should I call for an ambulance? Or call your parents?”

“I—I think I can stand,” he said, gently touching his cut cheek. He started to stand. I grabbed his arm and helped pull him up.

“That costume,” he said. “Why—”

“Never mind,” I said. “I just came back to help you.” I handed him his cap. “Who were those guys who beat you up?” I asked.

“
Who wants to know?
” a harsh voice behind me demanded.

Startled, I twisted around—and saw the four tough-looking boys in black leather jackets.

I saw the baseball bats in their hands. I saw their eyes narrow menacingly. Their bodies tensed, as if getting ready for battle.

And then, raising their bats, they moved in on me.