《Static Bride》 Chapter 1 Crisp autumn air soured by gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke hit Elijah''s nose as he stared out his P.I.A.-issued Mustang window. Vibrant red and gold leaves swirled in the Mustang''s wake, settling over cracked asphalt potholes that rattled the chassis. "Corwood, Tennessee," Elijah mumbled, rubbing his salt-and-pepper beard. He chucked an empty cigarette pack out the window. "Hope there''s a gas station soon. Before Bruce lets one rip." Ashley, the blonde agent driving, glared at him via the rearview. "You should quit. It''s not good for your health." Eli smirked. "Neither''s this job." Bruce, the rotund agent riding shotgun, sprayed burger crumbs as he laughed. "C''mon, Eli! Free food, free gas¡ªhell, freeexistence!" Mustard dripped onto his P.I.A. jacket, staining a file labeledSite Gamma. The radio fizzed¡ªa country twang warping into static. Bruce smacked it.Thunk. "Real smooth," Ashley muttered, tossing her book¡ªThe Electrical Worldby Nikola Tesla¡ªonto the dash. Eli pointed to a flickering sign:Static Stop & Go. The ''S'' was dead, leavingthe taticglowing like a command: "Stop here." "Want anything?" Eli asked, stepping out. "I''ll have¡ª" "Not you." Eli cut Bruce off. Ashley smirked. "Cassette player? Bruce killed ours." Eli trudged toward the gas station. Graffiti marred its plywood-boarded windows: a crude hollow sun with rays ending in skeletal fingers. Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed like angry wasps. "Mornin''," croaked the clerk, an elderly man with milky eyes and aDavenametag. Eli grabbed a coffee, eyeing a vending machine hawkingStatic-X Energy Pills!The mascot¡ªa cartoon ghost¡ªgrinned too wide. The clerk''s radio crackled, distorting a basketball game into guttural static. "That happen often?" Eli asked. "Ever since thenew reactor," Dave spat. His gaze dropped to Eli''s P.I.A. badge. "Y-you''re here for the inspection, ain''tcha? I didn''t mean¡ª" "Relax. Just routine." Eli slid cash across the counter. The radio emitted a faint silver aura¡ªa shimmer only he noticed. His stomach tightened.Anonium residue. Outside, the Mustang idled. Ashley frowned. "You look like you saw a ghost." "Nah," Eli lied, glancing back. Dave stood frozen, staring at the hollow sun graffiti. His reflection in the boarded glass didn''t blink. Eli handed Ashley the cassette player and slumped into the Mustang as Ashley turned on the engine. "Not a good start for this job." Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Veteran instincts?" "Nah, Ether Trace." Bruce burped, mustard smearing theSite Gammafile. "Right, Eli?" Eli lit a cigarette, the smoke curling into the static-laced air. "Traces at a backwater gas station. Gloom''s here¡ªjust notloudyet." Ashley jammed her headphones on. "Every track''s static. Anomaly confirmed." Bruce tossed Eli the smudged report. "Gamma risk, per the Hotline." Eli skimmed it, his temples throbbing¡ªa familiar hum building behind his eyes.Job fatigue. Always job fatigue.Outside, the reactor loomed, its silhouette clawing the sky. "Who built this eyesore?" Eli asked. "Ether Tech," Bruce said, slurping his soda. Ashley slammed the brakes. "Fuck! What''s he doing?!" An old man stood in the intersection, windbreaker flapping, eyes vacant. A mulberry aura pulsed around him, syncing with the reactor''s distant hum. His lips moved soundlessly:"...bruise-colored skies... sew-n... thread..." Eli drew his Desert Eagle. "Stay here." The man turned. His irises were fogged mulberry, veins spiderwebbing like cracked glass. "Sir?" Eli called, finger tense on the trigger.Not yet. Not until he''s Hollow. The man''s head jerked toward the reactor. A static screech ripped from his throat¡ªThe story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. BRRRZZZTThe static screech tore through the air, vibrating in Elijah''s molars.The man''s veins blackened, spreading like ink through water, before he crumpled¡ªa puppet with severed strings. Ashley radioed for local law enforcement. Bruce gagged. "What the hell was that?!" Eli stared at the reactor and then at the lifeless husk of what used to be a man. "Our evidence that Gloom is here," he said as he holstered his gun. Let''s find a pay phone and contact HQ." "That''s Gloom!?" Bruce asked wide-eyed as Elijah got back in the car. "Why would anyone take that shit?" "Technically, that''s Sour Blood. Nasty shit, no wonder why the government has been keen to nip this in the bud," Ashley mentioned. "And we have been turned into glorified undercover drug operatives when we should be dealing with the para natural," Elijah said as he heard police sirens echoing in the distance. "I''m going to have a word with the mayor and get a vibe of this town. Can you all handle this?" Elijah asked as he gestured at the police cars arriving on the scene. The engine hummed as he drove down the country road toward Corwood, Tennessee. He lit a cigarette at a stop sign; his eyebrows furrowed as he watched an addict stumble into a parking lot before driving off. His eyes drift towards the pro- and anti-ether posters in the windows of local downtown businesses. Across the street, a female high school basketball team takes donations at a car wash. A yellow and purple cougar mascot danced to 90s teen pop as the girls washed muddy trucks. Elijah popped an Ibeprofun as he passed multiple vandalized closed businesses. Stained, scratched sofas sat, and feral cats occupied unkept yards. Homes were rustic and Victorian age with boarded-up windows and burn stains. "Fuck!" Elijah shouted as a broadcast began playing on the radio, promoting the Corwoods festival later in the week. He quickly turned off the radio as he arrived at the mayor''s office next to the town''s police station. Elijah presented his badge to the receptionist, whose eyes widened as she fumbled to get the mayor. His chestnut-toned hands rubbed his temples as he listened to the mayor bicker with someone on the phone. His eyes drifted to a slight yellow ether glow from the young receptionist, and her eyes met his. The receptionist''s fingers trembled as she dialed the mayor, her pupils flickering like a faulty bulb. "Sorry about that; I was not expecting the P.I.A. to arrive so soon," A middle-aged, clean-shaven man said as he rubbed his neck, leaving a faint yellow ether glow. "Elijah Carter, P.I.A. Special Task Force," Elijah said as he showed his badge. "I take it you''re the mayor of this town?" "Richard Corwood. It''s a pleasure. You''re here for the reactor, right?" Richard asked, then gestured to Elijah to follow him into his office. "I am, but an ether hotline lead also brought us. Have you heard about what we ran into on our way here?" Elijah replied as he followed Richard into his office and sat in a vintage chair. "I did, I did, he was Matthew Cambell. He was a good man but fell into rough times while the town waited for the new reactor to be built," Matthew explained as he sat behind his office desk and offered Elijah a glass of whiskey. "Seventy percent of adults in town have worked at the previous reactor in one way or another. Many people had a hard time finding work, and we are very thankful that Ether Tech built this in such a short amount of time." "So, is that why there is a gloom epidemic here?" Elijah asked as he sipped the whisky, leaving a sweet but sour lingering aftertaste in his mouth. Richard''s laughter cracked mid-syllable, his hand drifting to a drawer where a Gloom Pill sits. "I wouldn''t call it an epidemic. Some people use it, and our officers diligently keep it off our streets. Matthew was just a tragedy, not a good example of the overall picture in Corwood." Richard downs a shot of whiskey before pouring himself another. "We have an excellent high school sports program. Number one male and female basketball teams in the state for two years." Elijah scoffed as he glanced up at Richard. His temples throbbed as a faint yellow haze¡ªlike sulfurous fog¡ªcurled off the mayor''s desk. He forced himself not to react, but the afterimage burned behind his eyelids. "That''s all fine and dandy, but you''re not making a convincing case when I know you''re using it too." Richard''s eyes widen as his mouth slumps open. "What...I.. don''t, how could you tell?" Elijah rolled his eyes as he saw traces of Ether''s residue on Richards''s desk. "That''s classified information, Richard. I will link up with my other two agents and get a feel of your town. Is there a payphone around here somewhere?" "What, don''t arrest me! Look, I take it from time to time. Helps with stress, but it''s not like I am selling this shit to my community," Richard pleaded. "Oh, I believe you, but that''s not my job to arrest. The FBI can handle that. I deal with things related to that Ether hotline tip that someone in your town sent." Richards''s eyes lowered as he darted from side to side and gazed over documents on his desk. "Ether hotline?" "Experienced anything unusual in town? Electronics not working correctly, strange local legends or people acting unusual?" Elijah asked. "Well, the radio stations have been a nuisance of the last month. Especially the closer you get to the High School. Nothing of the sort about unusual behavior or local legends. We are talking about ghosts. So, are the rumors about the P.I.A. investigating that type of stuff true?" "No, because ghosts are not real. Also, Classified intel," Elijah said as he had one last sip of the whiskey and began to leave. He stopped and glanced at the receptionist. "Unless you want to end up like Matthew, I suggest you lay off the gloom, too." Her eyes drifted from his gaze, and her eyebrows furrowed as he left the building.The receptionist''s pen clattered to the desk, her pupils dilating like black holes. A tremor raced through her hands as she muttered, "How did you know?" Elijah stepped into the brittle afternoon light, the reactor''s hum vibrating in his molars. The high school mascot''spainted smile now a rictus grin. Static crackled from its speakers, warping the pop song into a guttural chant: ''Sew-n... thread... from-a dead star dress...''". He walked over to the pay phone across the road, sparking a cigarette as he held the phone to his ear. He inputs zero, zero, and one before dialing the number that displays on his pager.The phone rings three times before someone picks up. "News already, Agent Echo?" "Wanna report a likely Gamma risk level anomaly and Gloom Smuggling during assignment 010-24. How do you want me to proceed?" Elijah responded as he glanced up at an Ether Tech billboard and the high school at the edge of the suburbs. "Proceed as normal, prioritizing the investigation into Ether Tech and their possible link to Los Fantasmas del Mercado. Ashley and Bruce will provide support if Risk Tier Level exceeds the initial assessment." Elijah set the phone back down, the mayor''s lies still souring his tongue. He was halfway to his car when the mascot''s speakers erupted¡ªa jagged burst of static that clawed at his eardrums. The speakers gargled a warped, dark pop tune, the lyrics twisting into somethingwrong: "An'' it''s hummin'' yer face like a broke-down train..." Chapter 2 Rachel''s sneakers squeaked against the waxed court, the stench of sweat and lemon disinfectant sharp in her nostrils. The gym lights buzzed like hornets trapped in a jar. She held her breath as she passed the ball. Her stomach churned like a storm-tossed sea. Every missed shot felt like another nail in the coffin of their dreams "What the hell was that, Marissa!? "Rachel''s Coach yelled as she blew the whistle to end the practice. Rachel wiped her forehead; her jersey clung like a second skin, the fabric salt-stiff and reeking of desperation. She shook her head and put her hands on her hips as she walked towards the coach, gesturing them all to huddle around. "That was a shitty practice for two-time defending state champions. We got a chance to be the first three-peat high school in state history; we can''t afford lazy practices. Now get dressed, Rachel, a word." Breathing deeply, Rachel nodded and brushed her strawberry-blond hair away from her face. "Why didn''t you take the shot?" Rachels Coach asked with a raised eyebrow. Rachel shrugged. "She was open, figured she would hit it." "I need you to be taking those shots. You''re the captain; you know you can''t rely on any of them to hit a shot like that when the game is on the line." Rachel nodded, forcing a smile to stretch across her face as her coach gripped her shoulder. "Three-time champions, putting this town on the map and getting scholarships. You got this." Rachel sulked to the locker room, changed into her multicolored windbreaker and jeans, and headed out on the way to her locker. After changing, Rachel stepped into the hallway; her headphones sat crookedly on her skull as she played a grungy pop song from her cassette player. Her eyebrow raised as she saw a mocha-skinned middle-aged man wearing a P.I.A. agent jacket walking with the principal. The P.I.A. agent''s gaze lingered on Rachel, his eyes narrowing as if he''d spotted a flicker of... something. Her headphones crackled¡ªa frequency too high for human ears. "Shit!" Her locker slammed shut. Mike loomed over her. His varsity jacket, reeking of Axe body spray, and entitlement. "The fuck was that for Mike!?" Rachel rolled her eyes, and they narrowed like daggers as he laughed. "What the fuck do you want, Mike?" "Relax, jeez, Rache, what got your titties in a twist?" Mike joked as he leaned against the lockers while chewing on a toothpick. He grabbed a comb from his pocket, intent on combing his moose-soaked blonde hair. "Not you anymore," Rachel grumbled as she grabbed her books and attempted to get past Mike. "What''s that supposed to mean?" "Fuck off, Mike. I am not in the mood for this today." "Woah, don''t be like that, Rache." "Don''t call me that anymore." "Look, just give me a chance to explain at the festival this Sunday." "Explain how you cheated. Yeah, I think not." "At least let me treat you to dinner tonight." "I am going to Emily''s, and you can take Becky since you gotta thing for her," Rachel said, a grin stretched across her face as she pushed past Mike, leaving his mouth open and hands up in the air. A burst of cool air smacked Rachel''s face as she left the high school. Her pink Mazda Miata sat silently with leaves speckled across the windshield. She glanced at the black P.I.A. Mustang parked further down. A catchy pop song played on the radio as she turned on the engine. Neatly trimmed yards with multi-story Victorian-style homes stretched for blocks as she drove through the suburbs. Kids played in the leaves at the town park while their parents gossiped about their affairs. American flags with pro-ether picket yard signs seemed to multiply at every stop sign. She parked her Miata in front of a two-story neo-colonial house with a brick foundation and double windows. She grabbed her bookbag and opened the front door with a key. "Mom, I''m home," She yelled, her voice competing with the loud dance workout her mom had on TV. Her mom, wearing a skimpy workout outfit, glanced back at Rachel, reaching for the remote to turn the TV down. "You''re home a little early. How was school?" Rachel''s mom asked. Rachel shook her head as she slung her bookbag on the marble kitchen counter. "Coach called it early, and some P.I.A. agent walked in the hallway with the principal."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Oh, that must be the guy who will inspect the reactor. Once it''s inspected and approved, your father and the rest of the town can get back to work." Rachel chuckled as she grabbed an apple from the refrigerator. "I bet you can''t wait, huh?" "You have no idea; all he does is bitch about football and politics. Are you heading somewhere?" "Yeah, I''m going to Em''s place. I just wanted to drop off my backpack first," Rachel explained as she bit into the apple and walked towards the front door. "Why don''t you just invite her over here? I get worried when you head to that side of town," Rachel''s mom said as she saw Rachel''s father, wearing a football jersey, walk into the kitchen to grab a beer. He cracked his beer, glanced at Rachel, and smiled. "How''s my champ!" "Doing better than them," Rachel chuckled as she pointed at the jersey he was wearing. "Hey, we getting better-" "Hey, let''s not humor him, Rachel. I already know every person who scored a touchdown on that team the past three years," Rachel''s mom interjects as she steps toward Rachel, encouraging her to leave. "Just be safe and consider bringing her here, okay?" Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled. "Okay, Mom, I love you," she replied as she hugged her and headed towards her car. Her eyes widened as she saw a distorted version of herself in the rearview mirror. Her reflection flickered¡ªa staticky doppelg?nger with hollow eyes. It grinned, mouthing a jagged radio screech before vanishing. She paused, turning on the engine mid-grip, and glanced up at the mirror again to see nothing. The engine hummed to life as she turned it on, and minutes later, she arrived at a grungy mobile home park. Grunge music blasted from a bedroom window. Rachel did her best to keep her sneakers from getting muddy as she approached the front door. Cigarette smoke, musk, and marijuana mixed into a cocktail that burned her nose as she entered the cluttered living room. Static shadows followed her reflection in Emily''s child photos scattered across the entertainment center. "How are you doing, Ms. Voss?" Rachel asked as a middle-aged woman with wild, unmanaged black hair approached the bathroom. The bags under her eyes competed with the frown on her face. "Here for Em? She is in her bedroom as usual," Ms. Voss said as she gestured towards the door down the hallway. Rachel smiled as she avoided Ms. Voss''s gaze, scooting past her toward Emily''s room. Her eardrums throbbed as the grunge music hit her ears as she opened the door. The music from Emily''s room warped momentarily¡ªa split-second of static that mimicked the frequency Rachel heard in her headphones. Cassettes, Band shirts, black jeans, makeup, and Converses littered the floor. Rock band posters and Eldritch Art decorated every corner of the room. A charcoal sketch pinned to the wall depicted a machine with too many gears, its center a mulberry solid eye. The eye seemed to follow Rachel, its pupil pulsing like a dying star. "Em!" Rachel shouted at the raven-haired girl, nodding while sitting at a crude art desk. "Em!" she shouted again as she stopped the music. The raven-haired girl turned her head sharply, her teal highlights complementing her shocked blue eyes. She rubbed her glassy eyes. "Em, back to earth." Emily quickly pushed pages containing the lyrics "You paint our future in static and sirens" to the side as she forced a smile on her face. "Rache...I uh-" "Why were you not at school today? Like you didn''t even answer my page." "Sorry, I wasn''t feeling it today," Emily replied as she yawned. Rachel shook her head and threw a band shirt at her. "You going to be held back if you keep this up, Em," "Relax, I still do my homework," She explained as she gripped a Gloom pill tightly before tossing it under the desk. She breathed a heavy sigh as she tracked Rachel''s eye movements to see if she caught her. Rachel jumped on the bed and began browsing Emily''s artwork. Her eyes narrowed with each mechanical eye drawing she set to the side. Her eyes widened as she noticed a page of lyrics. We''re flickerin'' ghosts on a cracked TV screen hidden beneath a drawing. "Nope," Emily victoriously shouted as she snatched it the minute Rachel''s hand grabbed it. "Not for your eyes yet." Rachel''s mouth dropped comedically."Em, how could you keep things from me!" Emily smirked as she ate the paper and then jumped on the bed. Emily''s forced smile faltered. "It''s for your own good." "Are you serious?" Rachel asked as she looked at Emily''s hazel eyes. "You keep secrets, too; you just haven''t thought about it yet," Emily muttered as she kissed Rachel on the lips. BRRRRRZZZTTTT "Rachel!" Mike yelled as his Cringy Love song played on his boombox. "Rache, I know you''re in there!" Rachel raised her eyebrows as she gazed at Emily''s confused face. She got up, her smile faded, and her eyes shot lasers at Mike as she opened the window. Rachel crossed her arms, glaring at him. "What do you want, Mike?" "I''m sorry!" "What?" "I said I am sorry!" "What!" With a frustrated kick, Mike sent his boombox flying. Metal shards scattered across the yard, denting Rachel''s car. The music died in a static, slow death. Mike rubbed his neck as he saw Rachel''s eyes blazing lava as she stared at the dents in her car. "My bad...I, uh, I will fix that." Rachel breathed heavily, her hands balled in a fist. "Go...home...Mike." Mike slowly backed away as he stumbled back to his car. "Unbelievable," Rachel muttered as she rubbed her eyes. "Looks like I got competition," Emily laughed. Rachel''s eyes lowered. "Har-Har." Emily grinned as she watched Rachel jump back on the bed. Her mind was too focused on Mike''s performance to think about the lyrics she ate. "So my mom wants you to come over," Rachel said as she looked at Emily. "I don''t think that''s a great idea," Emily replied as her eyes drifted towards the posters and drawings on her wall. "Why not? They already know we are best friends. We are just two teenage girls doing typical teenage girl things. With a few extra steps," Rachel laughed. "Extra steps. That''s what we calling it?" Emily laughed. "I will do your homework for a week." "I hate you...fine, you win," Emily said, rolling her eyes as Rachel grabbed her arm. The warm afternoon sun hit Racheal''s face as she dragged Emily by the hand to her car. Her smile stretched ear to ear, and she did not notice the multiple reflections of herself and Emily opening the car door. Her car hummed with latency as it came to life. A rush of deja vu swelled inside Rachel briefly before it faded away as the vehicle got further from Emily''s home. As Rachel halted at an intersection, a black Mustang idled ominously on the other side of the road. D¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over her again, stronger this time, as though the car itself was always supposed to be there. Rachel''s temples throbbed, the hum of her Miata syncing with the Mustang idle engine. Chapter 𝟎???𝟏???𝟎???𝟏??? "What the fuck is going on in this town!" Eli yelled to himself. He cranked the ignition again, but the Mustang stubbornly refused to start." "Fuck my life," He groaned as he tilted down to retrieve his cigarettes, oblivious to the pink Miata stopped at the opposite side of the intersection. A catchy pop song caught his attention as the pink Miata passed, just as he sat back up in his seat. An eerie, static-charged glow surrounded the car, its deep mulberry hue pulsing like a heartbeat. The mulberry aura buzzed against his molars, a frequency that tasted like burnt hair and regret. His eyebrows furrowed as a rush of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him. The d¨¦j¨¤ vu wasn''t just familiarity¡ªit was the same feeling he felt flying over the Bermuda Triangle. The same hum. The same dread. "There''s no way,''" he muttered, shaking off the unsettling sensation. He forced himself to focus as his eyes fixated on the license plate as the Miata turned the corner. "Stc-0101" His Mustang hummed to life like a Frankenstein monster. The radio blared at full volume, thanks to Bruce. BRRRRZZZTTT A distorted static voice resembling a teenage girl echoed from the radio. "S???????t??????????o?????????p??????????????? ??????????R????????????????????e??????????????????????????a???????????????????????d????????????????????" {?????? ????????, ?????????? ?????. ????????????? ???????...????????} "''You rewrite fate like a scratched-up cassette.''" The cryptic message shot chills down Eli''s spine. With a growl, he bashed the radio until it fell silent, though the words echoed in his mind like a warning. "It''s an easy job, they said. Just a gamma level anomaly, not a damn Delta or Omega Level Conduit!" Eli stepped out of the car and headed towards the payphone on the opposite side of the road. "I am too old for this shit," He muttered to himself as he lit a cigarette and picked up the phone." "Did you enjoy being back in high school, Agent Echo?" Ashley chuckled on the other side of the phone. "Knock it off, Ash. We have a serious problem. I need you to run a license plate number for me," Elijah replied as he lit another cigarette. "Alright, what is it?" "Stc-0101." Elijah leaned against the phone booth as he gazed back at his Mustang. The haunting message from his radio still lingered in his mind. However, he had no recollection of the static voice before, as if it wasn''t meant for his ears. "Pink Miata?" Ashley asked. "Yup, that''s the one." "It belongs to Rachel Harper. Looking deeper, she is this town''s high school female basketball captain. You think she is smuggling Gloom?" "I can''t say for sure, but either she or whoever else was in that car was a conduit." "A conduit? There are only twenty of them around the world. You sure, Eli?" "Yes, I am sure because I am one myself. Now listen, I need you and Bruce to do some reconnaissance. I need eyes on who was in that vehicle while I go to the Reactor to inspect." There was a pause; Elijah could hear Ashley talking with Bruce in the background. "Okay, what should we tell HQ?" "Nothing." "Ummm, Why?" "Because they won''t believe you if you told them I think an Omega-level conduit was in that vehicle." "Okay, Eli, stop fucking around. There never been an Omega level anything." "I wish I was joking. I single-handedly classified twenty-five percent of all anomalies at HQ because of my Ether Trace. The energy reading I got from that car was off the charts." "And you want us to do reconnaissance on that! We don''t have any powers like you," Bruce yelled. "I just need to see who was in that car. I don''t need you two doing anything crazy. I need to know what we are dealing with before I tell HQ." "Wait a minute, Stc-0101. That''s an SOS." Eli''s eyes widened as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. His eyes darted from side to side as he tried to organize all the information he learned about the town so far. He started to recall all types of anomalies and Conduits in his previous jobs, how they were created, and how they behaved. He lit another cigarette as dread began to claw up his body like a cat clinging to clothing. "That''s no coincidence," he muttered to himself as a rush of Deja Vu dug into him again as he hung up the phone. He hesitated to pick up the phone and call HQ immediately or return to his Mustang. Elijah couldn''t shake the feeling that he had done this all before as he returned to his car. He stared at the radio for several seconds, expecting something to happen as he turned on the engine. The radio stayed silent the whole ride up to the Reactor. His eyes narrowed, noticing several unmarked black SUVs around the gate of the Reactor. Latino men wore black suits that hid most of their tattoos. Each man had a similar skull tattoo on their hands, which Eli immediately recognized.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Los Fantamas, I guess the intel was on the money," he muttered as he drove up to the gate. A bald Latino man raised an eyebrow as he approached Eli Mustang. "No se permiten visitas. "Got it?" he yelled as he waved Elijah off. Elijah pulled out his badge as he rolled down his window, one hand on his waist where his Desert Eagle lay. "P.I.A. Special Task Force, I am for the inspection. Comprendo?" The Latino man''s eyes widened as he turned his head towards Eli. "Eres tonto? I don''t give a fuck if you''re the president. We ain''t taking visitors." Eli''s head throbbed as he fixated on the faint yellow ether residue on the man''s hands and face. "Of course, he is fucking high on gloom," Eli thought to himself as he noticed the other men turn their heads toward him, hands on their weapons. "Easy, kid, your boss knows I am coming, I assure you." The Latino man laughed as he shook his head and gazed at the others watching. He leaned on Elijah''s car and branded his pistol at the door. "Last chance , amigo." BANG! Elijah''s eyes dilated as the man''s blood splattered on his face, and his skull bounced off his window as a high-caliber bullet pierced his head. His head bounced off Eli''s door before his body slumped on the road like a ragdoll. "Apologies, Agent Elijah. No me gusta el comportamiento grosero y poco digno," A Tall Latina woman wearing a designer raven-colored blazer with golden buttons that matched the ether aura radiating off her. Her sharp cappuccino-colored eyes stared at the dead body on the road and then at the blood that dripped off Elijah''s door and face. "Dezerea Hernandez, I would like to take a moment of your time before you meet my brother regarding the Reactor inspection," She said as she gestured to one of the men, who then gave her a handkerchief. Eli''s hands shook as he accepted the handkerchief and wiped the blood off his face. "Ummmm, Okay," Eli forced himself to mutter as he opened his car door and followed Dezerea to a black Mercedes Benz. Her high heels clicked on the asphalt, splashing blood on her pants. "Tequila?" she asked as she poured herself a drink while they sat in her Mercedes'' backseat. Elijah nodded as he accepted a glass from her. "Thank you," he said. "Could I get another?" Dezerea smirked and poured another for herself and Eli. "Ir¨¦ directo al grano. We have been watching you since you arrived, and yes, I am aware that your agency, your government, is investigating what relationship Ether Tech has with Los Fantamas del Mercado." Dezerea explained with a stoic expression. "Then why are you just best begging for the FBI to arrest you?" Elijah replied as he downed his second drink. Dezerea chuckled. "Please, Agent Elijah, we both know your government has nothing on me that would stick in court. Si acaso todos me necesitan." "Need you; what are you going on about?" "I know you are a conduit, Ether Trace that, right? I am a Binder; your agency has me down as Mirror, correct?" Eli''s eyebrows raised as his head corked to the side, his mouth slightly open. "How the fuck do you know that?" "My influence is as vast as the ocean, Agent Elijah. But that isn''t important; what is important is what you will do after completing your inspection of the Reactor." "And what is that?" "This town, you know something is off," Dezerea said as she glanced at the backseat window. Her once brown eyes faded to a sickly eggshell white for a few seconds before the window cracked. "I can sense it too, but not like how you do." "And what do you see?" Eli asked as his eyes narrowed. "A distorted static woman. I can not see her face, but the visions get clearer the closer I am," Dezerea explained as she glanced at the Reactor looming just beyond the gate. "And they are as clear as a movie in this town." "She really knows," Eli thought back to the Pink Miata. "No, not yet. Can''t trust her yet." "What are you saying?" "If you encounter anything or anyone, specifically a female, that may have something unusual about her. Please consider handing her over to me instead of your agency. "What are you not telling me, Dezerea? Are you saying you''re better suited to handling para-natural things than the P.I.A.?" "In this specific case, yes. Your government and agency are complacent or ignorant of the threat in this town. Now, Agent Elijah, you may think me a monster, but it takes a monster to hunt a monster. You know something is hazardous in this town, and you can be my bloodhound so I can end it before it ends us. " Elijah''s eyes narrowed as he met Dezerea''s gaze. His eyes drifted away as he remembered the mulberry glow vibrating off the Pink Miata. His hands got clammy as his spine tingled. "I know your duty to your agency is by force. After all, how can someone like you or I live amongst the general public." Dezerea said as she gestured for someone to open the door for Elijah. I have to return to Mexico for business. I will be back in three days. Please consider my offer, and I will find a way to get you out of the P.I.A." Eli didn''t reply as he glanced down before leaving the car and walking up to the reactor gate; its natural hum reverberated off his chest. He glanced back as Dezerea''s car as it slowly drove down the pothole-riddled road. The reflections glitch in latency as the sunlight shimmered off it. The gate rattled as its rusty chains crackled as it opened. The Pearlescent White Reactor loomed over him, its shadow casting down the hill. As he approached the main entrance, a Latina man sporting a v-cut black business suit approached him with a smile. "Agent Elijah, I see you met my sister." The man said as he forcefully shook Elijah''s hand. "Yeah...I did. And you are the CEO of Ether Tech, correct?" "Yes, Diego Hernandez. I hope we understand one another and that this inspection will not cause complications, " he asked with a smirk as he led Elijah into the Reactor. The sound of gears, running water, and disinfectant rattled Elijah''s eardrums as he walked down what seemed like an endless catwalk. Yellow pipes stretched along every wall, leading to a large core that hummed and glowed with an eerie mulberry aura. "Are you sure you want to be here, Diego?" Elijah asked as he glanced at the eye of the core that seemed to follow them as they walked. "No worries, I already passed my ether aptitude test," He replied as he handed his passport to Elijah. Eli glanced down to see his agency''s stamped insignia on one of Diego''s passport pages. He stopped walking and handed the passport back to Diego." You and your sister seem really dedicated to this community in one way or another." Diego smirked as a nervous laughter passed his lips. "Don''t get in the way, Agent. Dezerea has hopes to make an alliance of some sort with you. But Amigo, I do not give a fuck. It''s just a backwaters redneck town. Little shit to fix a much bigger problem." "Oh, so you see something too?" Diego shook his head as they walked to the exit. "I can''t see what my sister can see, but I can feel something is off about this town." "Maybe that''s the gloom you are smuggling into town," Elijah said with a raised eyebrow. Diego smiled as they exited the Reactor and reached the gate. "Consider my sister''s offer; you don''t have to die over this." Elijah didn''t respond as he watched the gates close before returning to his vehicle. The engine roared to life, and his radio turned off as he drove down the hill. His mind drifted back to the Miata as the Mustang approached the bottom of the mountain. He kept glancing at the radio as he drove, expecting it to hum to life on its own, but no such thing happened. BAM! Shattered glass and metal ripped through his skin as a truck collided with his Mustang. His vision blurred, and his body ached as he willed himself out of his mangled vehicle. The dented truck radio blasted a dark, catchy pop tune amongst the continuous car horn noise that reverberated in his eardrums. "Oh, the agents search in echoes low, For truths that only we will know. If you listen close, they''ll tell you lies: We''re all just static under endless skies." ???????? I wake up where the shadows hum, A broken train on bruise-colored drums.Threads unravel from my fingertips,They whisper secrets I can''t commit. My reflection splits, a hollow grin, Eyes like static, skin so thin. Every mirror shows what I''ve erased, But ghosts don''t vanish¡ªthey just retrace. Oh, the sirens sing in frequencies low, Painting tomorrow in static snow.If you listen close, they''ll tell you this: Sewn from a dead star dress, Stitched with threads we can''t undress. Humming faces fade away, In a sky that never sees day. S????e?????????????????????????????????w????????????n??????????????????? f?????r???_????????????????????????????????o???????????????????????????????_??????????m?????????????????????????????? a????????????????????????????????????????????? d?????????????????????????e??????????a??????????????d?????????????????????????????????????????? s????????????????????????????????????_?????t???????????_????????????????????????????????????a?????????r??????? d???????_???????????????r????????????????????????????????????????_?????e??????????????????s????????????????????????????????????????????s?????????, Where do we go when we regress? The needles pierce but leave no scar,Binding me to who I are.A p??????????????????????????????????????????????a?????????r???a??????????????????????????????????????????????d?????????????????????????????????o?????????????????????????x??????????????????????????????????????? wrapped in p??????????????????????????????????????????????a?????????r???a??????????????????????????????????????????????d?????????????????????????????????o?????????????????????????x???????????????????????????????????????,Breathing smoke, tracing clocks.You called me ghost, called me thread,Now I''m tangled in the words you said.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Your voice cracks like a d????????y??????i???????????????????????n??g??????????????????????????????? m???????????????????a?????????????????????????????????????????????c?_???????????????????????????????h?????????????????????i?????????????????????????????????_???????????n????????????????e????????????????, Echoing truths I''ve yet to glean. Oh, the sirens sing in frequencies low, Painting tomorrow in s??????????????????????????????t??????????????????a???????????t???i????????????c??????????????? s????????????????????????????????????n??????o??????????w????????????????????????????????????????????????. i?????????????????????????????f?????????????????? y????????_???????????????????o????????????????????????????????u???????? l????????????????????????????????????????????i??_??????????????????s??????????????????????????????????????t??????????????????????????????????????????e????n????????????????????????????????? c????????????????????????????????????????l????????????????o?????????????????????????????????s?????????????????????????????e???????????? Sewn from a dead star dress, Stitched with threads we can''t undress. Humming faces fade away,In a sky that never sees day.Sewn from a dead star dress, Where do we go when we regress? "?????????????????????????.??????????????????????.?????????????????????.???????????????????????????s?????????????????????????????????_e?????????????????????????????????????????????w???_????-??????????????????????????????????????n???????????????_??????????????????????????...????????_?????????????????? t??h???r??????????????????????????????????????????e???????a???????????????????????????????????????????????d???????...??????? f????r?????????????????_???o??????????m??????????????????????????????????????????-??????????????????????????????_???a???????????????????????????????????? d???????????????????????e???????a???????????????????????????d???????????? s?????????????????????????????????????t?????????????????????????a??_?????????????????????????????????????????r???????????????????????????????????????????? d??????r?????_??????????????????????????_??????????e?????????????????????????????s??????????????s??????...????????????????????????????????????"??????????????????????????????????????????We''re not alive, we''re not undone,Just echoes stitched into the sun. The engine hums, the gears collide,And somewhere deep, I still reside. Sewn from a dead star dress, Chapter 4 Rachel glanced up as cop cars sped past her parked car, their strobing lights painting the scene in flashes of red and blue. The lights reflected off her face, and sirens wailed in her ears. In the passenger seat of one patrol car, she spotted a rotund officer wearing a P.I.A. cap. "What''s that all about?" Emily asked as she sipped on some lemonade she purchased at a hot dog stand. "I don''t know, but I guess there is more than one P.I.A. agent in town," Rachel replied as they headed towards the thrift store at a mall plaza. Teenagers and retired elderly couples walked the sidewalks as Rachel and Emily navigated around the vehicles, searching for a good parking spot. Nail Salons and clothing stores dominated the plaza, coated and sanitized in corporate, minimalistic architecture. Neon signs buzzed faintly, their letters stuttering like dying fireflies against the gray afternoon sky. A THREADS & THRIFTS sign hung crookedly above a small clothing store wedged between a blockbuster and a hair salon. Rachel pushed open the thrift store door, releasing a wave of stale air laced with fabric softener, Pine-Sol, and something heavier¡ªdesperation clinging to every thread. Rachel and Emily browsed the antique bobbles, propaganda posters, and recently owned clothing on display. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Mike''s reflection in an antique mirror, talking to a group of girls at the back of the store. "Of course, he is here," Rachel muttered, gesturing for Emily to look in the mirror. "Where?" Emily asked with a raised eyebrow. Rachel glanced back at the mirror and then back to where she had seen Mike, but there was no sign of his presence in the store. A short, blonde-haired teenage girl wearing a jacket that shouted in color like a peacock stood where Rachel thought Mike was. "Rachel? Thrifting? Never pegged you for the type," The blond-haired girl said, raising an eyebrow as if spotting a unicorn at the mall. Rachel''s temples throbbed as she closed her eyes momentarily before greeting the girl with a forced smile. "Sara, did you see Mike?" Rachel asked as she glanced around the store. Emily lowered her eyes to the ground before gazing back up at Rachel, watching her perplexed expression as she searched for Mike. "Ummm, no. Mike is not in here, or at least I haven''t seen him," Sara replied, shrugging. I did see you talking with him earlier, though. So, did you guys get back together?" "Pfftt no," Rachel replied as she rolled her eyes. "He even showed up to Em''s place with his boombox and somehow managed to damage my new car in the process." "Wait, are you still hanging out with Emily?" Sara replied with a raised eyebrow. "Funny, I thought being interesting was still cool. I guess I missed the memo," Emily replied as she sipped loudly on her lemonade with a stoic expression. Sara''s eyes widened as she noticed Emily. "Oh, you''re here," she groaned, rolling her eyes and forcing a smile. "Don''t be like that, Sara. Emily is the most talented person I know. She may be a little strange but has a good heart." "Whatever you say, Rache." "Why don''t you come to watch her practice with her band? She got this sweet set up in her garage," Sara raised her eyebrows. "Em got a band? That is news," Sara replied as she gazed at Emily with a perplexed look. Emily''s eyes darted across the store, and an awkward smile stretched across her face. "Yeah, totally. Next thing you know, I''ll be serenading prom queens with power ballads and leg warmers," she said as she chuckled. "Rache, I am not in a band. Have you been watching 80s movies lately?" Sara rolled her eyes. "Cute, but I will pass. Anyway, Rache, there is a pre-festival party happening on the weekend. You should come, and I guess you can bring this trainwreck along." "Takes one to know one," Emily replied as she grabbed Rachel. "I want to punch that bitch in the face," Emily muttered as they left the store. "I don''t know why she hates you," Rachel said as they approached her car. "Please tell me you''re not considering going to that party, Rache?" ''I mean, do we have anything else better to do this weekend?" "You are so infuriating sometimes, Rache." Rachel''s eyes widened as they got in her Miata and turned on the Engine. "And you keep secrets like you''re a serial killer." "I''m sorry, Rache...maybe I do wanna keep that I see myself dying over and over in my dreams as a secret!" Rachel''s heart skipped, and her voice fizzled out mid-syllable. "Wha?" "Just forget it, Rachel, and drive...I am not in the mood to talk about it." "But." "Rache- just drop it. We can talk about it later. I don''t want your parents to see the obvious trainwreck that I am," Emily said as she gazed out the window. Rachel opened her mouth but stopped herself. She forced back a tear as she focused on the road. The color of the sky mimicked Rachel''s swirling emotions as dusk began to set. Street lights flickered on as she parked her dented Miata in the driveway. She noticed her mother in the living room window as they exited the car. "Rachel...what happened to your car?" She asked as she met Rachel and Emily at the front door. "Mike followed me to Em''s house, then decided to try to serenade me before kicking his boombox at my car," Rachel groaned as she hugged her mom.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Well, I will be having a word with his parents tomorrow. And this must be Emily?" "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Harper," Emily said as she rubbed her neck and glanced around the spotless living room and expensive entertainment system. "Likewise, Rachel won''t stop talking about you. Please stay for dinner; we are having my famous Meatloaf and roasted potatoes. Oh, and Rache, can you get your father out of his man cave while I get Emily situated?" Rachel nodded, then looked back at Emily, who refused to look her in the eye. She sighed and headed towards the basement. She was too stuck in her head to notice that her shadow wasn''t moving in unison with her as the wooden floorboards creaked under her feet. Football merchandise and movie posters cluttered the basement walls. Her barely visible reflection was that of a grinning static doppelganger on her father''s large television. Her reflection grinned too wide; its hollow eyes glowed faintly. Static crackled around its edges, distorting its features until it looked almost human¡ªbut not quite. "Dad...dinner. I brought Emily home, by the way," Rachel said as she stood near the basement steps. "Oh, what the fuck was that!" Rachel''s dad yelled at the TV while he watched a college football game. Rachel rolled her eyes. "Dad!" "Oh, you come to watch some football with your old man?" "In your dreams. Dinner is ready, and I brought Emily." "What, she came over? Give me a minute, I be right up." "We won''t leave any leftovers." "Fine, fine," Rachels dad groaned as he turned off the television and followed Rachel upstairs. The dining room was filled with the delicate and rich aroma of perfectly cooked Meatloaf and roasted potatoes as Rachel and Emily helped set the mahogany-wood dining table. Rachel smiled as she noticed Emily staring at several of her childhood photos. "Rachel was such a cute and well-behaved child growing up. She was also a chubby kid," Rachel''s mom said as she set the utensils. "Mom!" Emily chuckled as she gazed at Rachel. "I swear if you make a fat joke, Em." Emily smirked and threw her hands up just as Rachel''s father entered the dining room. "So Rachel tells us you are a very talented musician and artist," Rachel''s dad said as they began to eat. "Lies," Emily replied as her eyes lit up as she took a bite of Meatloaf. "This is good, Mrs. Harper." "I am glad you like it. But seriously, you should come over more often. You are always welcome here, and I know a few people who can help you get into a college with an excellent art program. "She means Vanderbilt," Rachel whispered before looking at the flickering light above the dining table. "Ugh, again. I am so glad the Reactor will be up and running by the end of the week. Getting tired of this crap." Rachel''s dad muttered as he got up. "I am going to go help your dad with the breaker box. You girls have fun, and make sure you two don''t oversleep. You still have school in the morning," Rachel''s mom said as she smiled at Rachel and Emily before leaving the dining room. Rachel gazed back up at the flickering lights above her, fixating on their consistent rhythm of on and off. Then, she refocused her attention when she noticed Emily getting up from the table. "So you ready to talk?" Rachel asked as they both cleaned the dining table. Emily sighed as she put the dishes away. "Your insomnia... it''s because you don''t want to sleep because of your dreams, right?" "They are not just dreams, Rache...I think they are visions," Emily explained as they headed upstairs, lights still flickering as she saw Rachel''s parents outside fiddling with the breaker box. "And all that art and lyrics... that''s from your dreams, too?" Rachel asked as they walked down the hallway toward her room. "Rache, I don''t wanna get into details. It is difficult to explain, but it feels like I am watching another Emily''s life," Emily explained as she leaned against the hallway window. "Sometimes, I am married to someone I never met. Sometimes, I live in a completely different country, but every dream ends the same. Me dying in some unlucky or violent way." "Do you ever see me or anyone else you know?" Rachel asked, leaning next to Emily. Emily''s legs started to shake as her eyes drifted towards the carpet. "Yes, but you''re very different." "Like how?" Rachel asked just before all the lights flickered out. Rachel gazed outside to see if she could see her parents, but all the streetlights were out as well." Great, a power outage. There should be some flashlights and candles in the basement." BRRRZZZZTTTTT "I''ve got bruise-colored skies in my eyelids, Sewn with thread from a dead star''s dress," Rachel and Emily''s heads turned sharply toward the speakers that somehow were turned on despite the power outage. "What the fuck?" Rachel froze mid-step, her breath catching. The lyrics hit like a punch to the gut¡ªthey''re familiar but wrong. She remembers snippets from Emily''s sketches and eaten pages: "No, no, no, no," Emily muttered with wide eyes as she saw a streetlight flickering an ominous red that matched the song''s rhythm blasting from the speakers. "You paint our future in static and sirens, But the Engine''s hum''s all I confess. We''re flickerin'' ghosts on a cracked TV screen, Dancin'' in snow that''s Mulberry-red," A sharp pain throbbed behind Rachel''s temples. Flashes of memory crash over her. A tall Latina woman full of hate and determination dying in front of her feet. Crying alone in Emily''s room, high on gloom, clutching crumpled lyrics. Watching her static doppelg?nger collapse as someone pulls a trigger. Her hands trembled as she whispered."Emily¡­ why does this sound like you?" Emily''s forehead dripped with perspiration, and her hands were clammy as she gazed at the pulsating red streetlights engulfing the entire neighborhood that slowly began to creep toward Rachel''s house. ??? ?????? ????, ??? ?¡¯V? ??????? ????, ??? ???? ????, ??? ???? ????¡­" Emily lunged for the speakers, yanking the cord free. Sparks flew, but the music didn''t stop¡ªit grew louder, pulsing with the red strobes engulfing the neighborhood. The red glow seeped through the windows like spilled ink, casting long shadows across the walls. It hummed faintly, vibrating in Rachel''s molars like a tuning fork. Rachel stared at Emily, but her mind was elsewhere. Her eyes dilated as fragments of familiar yet alien memories rushed through her head. "Emily...why did that sound like you?" Rachel muttered as she curled into a ball on the stairs. "Rachel, snap out of it!" Emily shouted, grabbing her shoulders. But Rachel''s eyes are hollow, unseeing. Panic clawed at Emily''s chest. "Not here. Not now. Not again." BRRRRZZZTTTTTT The once haunting dark pop tune changed to a different track suddenly. You''re flickerin'' ghosts on a cracked TV screen, Caught between what was and what could''ve been. The static threads pull tight; they won''t let go, We''re sewn from the fabric of a dead star''s glow. Oh, the hollow hums louder when you try to sleep, It whispers your name in rhythms too deep. "Rewind," it says, "but don''t look back too far¡ª You''re just a shadow stitched to a dead star." Rachel chuckled as a grin began to form on her face. "??...??...??..????...?????.??????! What are you not telling me ?????! What secrets are you hiding from me ?????!" Threads unravel, skies bruise-colored blue, Every choice is a mirror reflecting you. Paint our future in static and sirens'' cries, This is the ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? Rachel''s eyes began to glow mulberry. A cold, mechanical voice sliced through Rachel''s mind. "?????????... ???Q????? ?????. ????? ????? ?????????." Static Thread Dead Star Lullaby, oh-oh¡­ Sing it soft so the ?????? won''t know. Emily slapped Rachel hard across the face; the sound cracked through the chaos. Sing it soft so the ?????? won''t know. The red lights flickered once, twice¡ªand then faded. The speakers fell silent. The cold mechanical voice faded away, as did the images Rachel saw. She buried her face in her hands, her voice breaking. "What the fuck am I?" Emily pulled her close, holding her tightly despite the tremors running through their bodies. "I don''t have all the answers, Rache. But whatever happens, I''m here. Okay? I''m here." Emily whispered as she looked back at the front door as Rachel''s parents entered the room. "What the hell happened?" Rachel''s dad asked as he gazed at Emily, hugging his sobbing daughter. "Don''t worry, I got it under control," Emily replied before gazing at the speaker. "Thank you, Emily," Emily whispered as if another Emily was in the room with them. Chapter 5 A single light flickered dimly above Elijah as he stared out the hospital window. Rain streaked the glass, warping the view of the navy-blue sky fading into night. His casted arm itched faintly, its outline blurred by raindrops splattering the pane. Outside, streetlights shifted from an ominous red to a sickly yellow-white while distant strobes of red and blue raced past the hospital. His mind drifted back to the crash¡ªhis crash. He''d been too fixated on the radio, mistaking a drunk driver for Los Fantasmas. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, mingling with the muffled voices of nurses and patients. Elijah turned as the doorknob rattled. A young nurse entered, followed by Ashley and Bruce. "We got here as soon as we could," Ashley said, her eyes widening as they landed on the cast wrapped around Elijah''s left arm. "What the hell happened?" Bruce asked, sipping a Coke behind her. "A lot," Elijah replied tersely. He stood up and reached into his jacket pocket for his cigarettes. "We need to get a hotel room." "Sir, I insist you stay at least until the doctor checks on you in the morning," the nurse interjected, clutching her clipboard tightly. "Not happening," Elijah muttered, brushing past her into the hallway and putting a cigarette in his mouth. "Are you sure about this, Chief?" Bruce asked, hurrying after him alongside Ashley. "Yes, did you guys tell HQ I need additional support?"Elijah groaned as he neared the entrance, but his lighter refused to light. Bruce grabbed Ashley by the shoulder and shook his head. Ashley bit her lip and looked away from Eli. "Yeah, they said they don''t have any support available." Elijah threw his arms up. His cigarette tumbled to the floor. "What the fuck, y''all!" "Goddamn... goddamn... goddamn!" He slammed his fist against the wall. Pain erupted in his left arm like a swarm of stinging bees. "Fuck...Fuck!" "Fuck...fuck!" He shouted as he paced around the hospital entrance while patients and nurses stood wide-eyed with their mouths open. Elijah stormed out of the hospital towards a police cruiser, still swearing at the top of his lungs as he kicked a trash can over. "Did you check Rachel Harper''s place?" he barked. "Yeah, the red lights started up around there," Bruce replied as he rubbed his neck. Elijah snatched a lighter from the cruiser and lit a fresh cigarette. He inhaled deeply. "Fuck! Tomorrow, we are doing the ether aptitude tests at the high school, right?" "Yeah, but we can handle it if-" "No. If Rachel doesn''t show, we hit her house." "You really should get some rest, Eli," Ashley said as she gestured for Elijah to get in the passenger seat. He rubbed his temples. "We need rooms. And I need to map this shitstorm." "Do you think it has to do with the reactor or that girl?" Bruce asked, getting into the backseat as Ashley turned on the police cruiser and drove down the parking lot. "The reactor''s just a catalyst. Proximity to it heightens anomalies¡ªconduits, binders, the works." Elijah flicked ash out the window. "Why the hell won''t HQ send help? They know Los Fantasmas is here."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "If this girl is hypothetically Omega level, what will we do? We don''t have anything on hand to deal with that, and she can''t stay in the general public," Ashley asked as she drove into an outdated motel parking lot. "We play the waiting game. Recon, investigate as much as possible until we know what we are dealing with. I hate this fucking job," Elijah said as he got out of the police cruiser. "Why don''t we just tell them there is something higher than Gamma here right now? Surely they will send support?" Bruce asked as he followed Elijah as Ashley booked some rooms at the motel''s service desk. Elijah stopped as they reached the top of a rusty set of stairs leading to the motel''s upper floor. He noticed a payphone near the motel service desk entrance and watched Ashley exit with keys to their rooms. "I will be back," Elijah said as he walked toward the payphone. He dialed his unique number code and gazed at the rain as he waited for the phone to ring three times before dialing the number. "Agent Echo status update?" "HQ, we need additional support due to the likelihood-" Elijah explained, then paused as he reached for his cigarettes. "We need additional support for a delta conduit or anomaly during assignment." There was a pause for several seconds as Eli gazed up at Ashley, who handed Bruce his motel key. "Did you say possible conduit, Agent Echo?" "Affirmative, per my Ether trace." "All available agents are on other assignments. Support will not be available for several days; make do with what you have till then." "We are not equipped for possible combat manifestation! Give me something." Eli flicked his cigarette into the rain as he heard whispering in the background. "There is another alternative, considering Ashley is a binder but has not resonated with an anomaly yet." "I can''t just make Ashley take that leap." "A package held by an operation and logistics agent will arrive in your location in 3 days. The package will contain 020-124. It will need to be bound to be utilized. Contain Delta level conduit and bring back to HQ for further analysis." "And what of Los Fantasmas?" "No additional support will be provided, and the FBI has been informed. Prioritize the extraction of Delta-level conduit by employing 020-124." Elijah slammed the phone as the phone call abruptly ended. "Motherfuckers," Elijah muttered as he walked towards Ashley and Bruce. "I take it we ain''t getting any support?" Ashley asked with a raised eyebrow as Elijah unlocked his motel room. "It''s complicated," he replied as he gestured for Bruce and Ashley to enter, then closed the door behind them. He leaned against the wall, staring at the motel''s cracked ceiling. "They''re sending an anomaly for containment. Nothing else." "Why are they sending us that?" Ashley sighed. "Because I''m a binder. Unbound." "Package will arrive in around three days, so you got time to think it through." Bruce gaped. "You''re a binder? Why not bond sooner?" Ashley crossed her arms and looked down."Once I do, I''m stuck in the P.I.A. No retirement. No escape." "You don''t have to do this if you don''t want to. I didn''t have the luxury of choice since I am a conduit," Eli said as he started to organize the assignment files on the bed. "Whether you make that jump or not, we have to contain and extract the Conduit before she gets her hands on her," he said as he grabbed a tack and posted Dezerea''s photo on the wall. I believe she is looking for the same person we are." "Why would a drug cartel leader want with her?" Bruce asked as he handed Dezerea''s bio to Elijah. "I am not sure, but letting her get her hands on a conduit is too risky for my playbook." "I will do it," Ashley said. Elijah glanced at Ashley with a raised eyebrow. "You got time, Ash. You don''t have-" Ashley shook her head. "No, I will do it. I never planned on leaving the P.I.A. anyway, and you''re right. We can''t let her get ahold of the conduit. So what exactly do this 020-124 do anyway?" "It''s a stasis barrier," Bruce said. "Anomaly 020-124, a music box found in an abandoned house in the soviet union." "You know that off the top of your head?" Elijah asked as he scribbled down Bruce''s statement and posted it on the wall''s ever-growing collection of documents. Bruce shrugged and smiled. "I like to read up on the anomalies at HQ. Some of them are crazy, 020-001 or Zippo lighter, burn anything, and never run out of fuel. Supposedly, it''s the cause of the Blue Rock incident in Montana." "Say, do you know anything about an anomaly called the mirror?"Eli asked. "Mirror?" Bruce whispered to himself as he looked down. That''s the one that lets the user see visions if they look into a mirror, though I am not sure of what or who. "So she wasn''t bullshitting." "Let''s get some rest. We have work to do tomorrow," Elijah said as he stared at his hotel wall cluttered with photos and documents.