The Shadow Boy and the City of Glass

Lightning and Shadows

The shadow creature stepped out of the dark hallway, and its glowing red eyes locked onto us.

It was taller than a normal man, with long arms that dragged against the carpet. Black smoke curled off its body, and its wide mouth opened to let out another wet growl.

Move! Evelyn shouted, pushing me hard to the side.

A bolt of bright yellow electricity flew from her hand, striking the creature square in the chest. The blast threw the monster back against the wall, but it did not stay down. It hissed, its body shifting like liquid smoke before it leaped forward again, aiming straight for Evelyn's throat.

I did not think. I flicked my wrist, and a wall of thick ice shot up from the floor between the monster and the detective. The creature slammed into the ice with a heavy crash, cracking the frozen barrier but stopping its attack.

Nice trick, Vance, Evelyn said, her voice sharp as she kept her hands charged with bright sparks. "Now keep it busy while I find the emergency stairs.

My uncle went that way, I said, pointing toward the opposite end of the corridor where Marcus had vanished just minutes before. And my sister is three blocks away in the hospital. We are not running away until I know she is safe.

Evelyn glared at me, her blue eyes flashing with anger. Listen to me, Arthur. The magical council runs this whole city. Your uncle is just a small piece of a much bigger group of bad people. If you try to hunt him down right now, you will die before you even leave this building. We need to get out of the lockdown zone first.

I do not care about their rules, I replied, my voice dropping. Marcus tried to kill me. And if my sister is trapped under that purple dome with these monsters roaming the streets, I am going to find her.

The ice wall cracked open with a loud snap. The shadow creature broke through the frozen barrier, swinging its long arm toward my head.

Evelyn moved faster than I expected. She grabbed the collar of my suit jacket, yanked me backward out of danger, and threw a powerful ball of lightning right into the monster's face. The bright flash filled the dark hallway, and the creature let out a high, painful screech before dissolving into a pile of black ash that faded away into the air.

We both stood breathing hard in the silence that followed.

That was too close, Evelyn said, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair from her forehead. She looked at me closely, her expression turning serious. "You have good powers, Arthur. But you are reckless. If you want to survive tonight, you do what I say. We go to my safe house near the park, figure out how to get past the council's dome, and then we deal with your family.

I crossed my arms, looking down the dark corridor. I did not trust her. The Federal Magic Bureau was just another group of powerful people who liked to control things. But she had magic, she knew how the council worked, and right now, she was the only way out of this tower.

Fine, I said. We go to your safe house. But the second we find a way across the city, I am checking on Elena.

Deal, Evelyn said.

She turned and led the way toward the service stairwell at the end of the hall. We pushed open the heavy metal door and began running down the concrete steps, floor after floor, leaving the ruined executive office behind us.

Every few levels, we heard the sounds of fighting outside the stairwell walls. Shouts echoed through the building, and magic lights flashed past the narrow wire-mesh windows. The council was securing the city, and anyone caught outside was a target.

By the time we reached the ground floor, my legs burned from the long descent. Evelyn pushed open the exit door, peering out into the lobby.

The main entrance of the skyscraper was empty, save for a group of men in black tactical gear wearing the silver badge of the magical council on their chests. They were holding heavy energy rifles, scanning the street outside where the glowing purple dome cast an eerie light over everything.

We cannot go out the front, Evelyn whispered, pulling back into the shadows of the stairwell.

Then we use the loading dock, I said, my mind working fast. The delivery trucks use the underground tunnel. My uncle's company moves supplies down there every day.

Evelyn nodded, approving of the plan without saying a word. We crept along the dark concrete wall, moving quietly toward the back of the building.

The loading dock was dim, lit only by a single flickering overhead light. A black delivery van sat near the open garage door, its engine idling. Two council guards stood near the back of the vehicle, talking in low voices.

I raised my hand, letting cold air pool in my palm. Before I could strike, Evelyn touched my arm.

Let me handle them, she said with a cold smile. Quietly.

Before I could argue, Evelyn stepped out from the shadows. She did not use lightning this time. Instead, she moved with surprising speed, closing the distance between herself and the nearest guard before he even turned around. She drove the heavy butt of her electric pistol hard into the side of his head, dropping him instantly.

The second guard reached for his rifle, but I flicked my wrist. Frost raced across the concrete floor, wrapping around his boots and freezing him in place. Before he could shout, Evelyn was already there, striking him across the jaw and sending him to the floor.

Not bad, I admitted, stepping out of the dark.

I told you I know what I am doing, Evelyn said, walking over to the driver's side of the van and pulling the door open. Get in. Let us go see what your uncle left behind in this city.

I climbed into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut as Evelyn put the van into gear. We sped out of the loading dock and into the streets of New York, surrounded by the towering, inescapable purple light of the dome.

We drove for ten blocks without speaking, the empty streets rushing past us in the gloom. The city looked wrong. The tall glass towers felt like giant prison bars, and the air felt heavy and cold.

Then, Evelyn slammed on the brakes, stopping the van hard in the middle of an empty intersection.

What are you stopping for? I asked, looking out the windshield.

Ahead of us, blocking the road, stood a tall figure in a long dark coat. The person turned around slowly, and the dashboard light caught their face.

My breath caught in my throat.

It was Elena.

She stood alone in the middle of the empty street, wearing her hospital gown, with no sign of sickness on her face. Her eyes were glowing a bright, terrifying shade of violet, and she was smiling.

Arthur, Elena said, her voice sounding older, deeper, and completely wrong. You took your time getting here. The cage is almost ready.