10th Anniversary: Shades of Gray #4 Sisters

By Kristie Lynn Higgins

10th Anniversary Edition:

The Shades Of Gray Series follows the adventures of Kat, a woman with no memory of her past who is called the Pandora Project by those who hunt her, and Kim, a woman leading the life of a legal assassin called a Life Closer. The apocalyptic world they live in is plagued by clouds called Dry Clouds that prevent the sun from shining down on the land, making all who live in Noir forced to live in endless night. Start this dystopian series by reading #1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness and #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love.

Kat searches for clues to her past while androids called Un-Men and human bounty hunters try to kill her, and Kim searches for who murdered her mother. The two women's paths collide, and they form a shaky partnership to unravel the mysteries that haunt their lives and they try to protect one another from those who do not wish for them to discover the truth.

Everyone's soul is marked by a color. Which shade of gray will they hold to?

10th Anniversary: Shades of Gray #4 Sisters:

A truth?
Or a lie?

Has something from Kat's (the Pandora Project's) past been revealed only to be taken back? What would she do to hang on to a sliver of hope? How far would Kat go to have what she truly wants?

Two stand in the balance...
But only one can be...

Kimberly Griffin (the Phoenix) is torn between what she wishes to be true and what she fears she will discover. What will she do when she discovers the truth?

A new Life Closer...
A call for a Life Closing...

The Phoenix's head has been put on the chopping block. While she searches for the truth, can she avoid her own assassination? Or will the Life Closer (the Doctor) diagnose her death?

**Shades of Gray Series** Science Fiction Action Adventure Mystery Thriller Series

(STARTING POINT QUADRILOGY)
#1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness
#2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love
#3 Shades of Gray: Cerberus Versus Pandora
#4 Shades of Gray: Sisters

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristie Lynn Higgins
• Release date: Dec 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463381052

Kristie Lynn Higgins

You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

Book preview

Chapter One

Sisters?

Katharine's view…

The hardest thing…

I've been on the run for over a year, living a bleak existence. Cold... Lonely... I'm surrounded by blackness like the Dry Clouds that plague the Dark Half of the planet, and I have no place to call home and no family to claim as my own. All I know is the hunt. I'm to destroy or be killed. Run, hide, or die... What kind of life is this? What's the purpose of my existence? Am I more than the Pandora Project? Am I more than some test subject pushed to no fathomable end? Is there more than this bleak life? Am I destined to be either the predator or the prey?

The year 32 A.D.C...

October 25...

Monday...

11:04 P.M...

Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

Nexus Apartments...

Apartment H...

Minutes before the end of Book Three...

Katharine's view…

I'm asleep on the couch in the living room of my big sis's apartment and while I listen to the tune, my body repairs itself from the battle I had with Stephanie. Before today, the only peace I found was when I entered a trance called the Drifting Time. It's brought on by the mysterious tune entitled Unfinished Melody that a small music box plays. Around 525 B.D.C., a composer named Ginn L. Irynkissgthie created the tune but never finished it. It is like me… I felt incomplete and that something was missing. I always thought there had to be more, more than the bleak life I existed in.

I think more about Unfinished Melody as I dream away the minutes. What does this tune have to do with me? Who gave me the music box and why? I received a note from someone called R.G. at the same time. Is this mysterious person the one who gave me the music box? I don't know. I'm so frustrated. There are more mysteries than solutions. When will I have some answers? When will I know who I am?

Kimberly's view...

I sit at the small kitchen table as I sip on my chamomile tea, and the liquid no longer steams now warm with time. I sit there, contemplating all I have learned today. Before Katharine came into my life, all I worried about was not messing up on one of my Life Closings, but now everything is different. I still can't believe it as I glance at the back of the couch. What are the odds that I would stumble across her on one of my assignments?

I stir the tea as I still can't get my head wrapped around it. I have a little sister! I look at the couch again. Before I let the truth sink in, I couldn't even imagine being related to her. I hated that I had to keep her around and despised the time I spent with her but now... I stare at the liquid, knowing now it's different.

My heart opened up to Katharine. The opening is small, but it's growing and there's something else. Since I opened my heart to her, there has been another sensation. I can't describe what it is, but it makes me feel more connected to Katharine as if we did know each other in the past. The memory of the connection is faint like dust on the wind. The cracked and crumbling foundation of our shared past has taken to the wind of the present… that's what the dust is. Fragments of memories that can no longer be pieced together. It's probably only wishful thinking. I believe it would have been nice to have known a young Katharine, to have played games, and cried and laughed together. Yes, I wish it was all true. I wish we had never been separated and that we had grown up together. I could have looked out for her. I would have been a good big sister to my little sister.

Katharine's view...

I continue dreaming in the Drifting Time. It's unlike other dreams. I seem to have more control here in this realm of the visual landscape of my mind. It's usually so peaceful here as I float on currents of thoughts and wishes. I think about my past, not the distant past that I can't remember, but my past that comprises of the last year. The loneliness... The sense of not belonging… Those were the things that belonged to me or more like clung to me like malicious phantoms whispering of things I could never have. I thought I wanted very little out of life. I wanted a loving family, a place to belong, and a name I could call my own. I wanted those things. I was jealous of those around me who had those things.

My life is different now. Today my existence has changed for the better. I have all three of those wishes.

Even before I found out Kimberly was my sister, I felt a connection with her and felt like I had come home. I smile as the knowledge of who I am reassures me. I can face anything, knowing I have a family. I'm a part of something and that makes me feel happy beyond mere human words could describe.

I continue to drift in my thoughts, and I picture myself standing beside Kimberly in a family photo. Theresa, our mom, is standing behind me with both of her hands on my shoulders. I can feel her love even in my imagined family portrait. Our dad, which I can't see his face yet, is standing behind Kimberly, grinning as any proud father would at his two daughters. We're all so happy in the photo. The family I picture can never be because one person is gone, but I still allow myself to think of it and what our family would have been like if nothing bad had ever happened to it. Yes… I allow myself to dream about a family that could have been, but then I decide it would be better to focus on the family I do have. I have a father and a sister.

11:22 P.M...

Katharine's view...

I wake with a start as something's beeping beside me as if warning me of danger. I'm groggy, so I ignore it for a few seconds. The beeping persists, so I sit up and look around, and I find that the sound's coming from my backpack. I'm careful of my injured leg as I position myself so I can grab the backpack. I notice Kimberly's moving to the front door. A.C.S. had earlier informed her someone was there while I was still trying to wake up. I find what's making the noise in my backpack, remove the tracking device, and then my heart sinks, seeing that a red dot has appeared on the screen. The tracking device only tracks one person…

Oh, my gosh! Stephanie has found me! The realization completely wakes me up as if I stepped into an icy shower, but I shake off the chill of fear and prepare for a fight. I grab my gun from the coffee table and limp to the entry, shouting at Kimberly, but she doesn't hear me in time. She opens the door and there stands Stephanie grinning like some devilish dog who has cornered a cat. One of Stephanie's hands is behind her back, and I'm afraid she has a gun. I balance on one leg, lift my gun, and aim, but I don't have a clear shot. I move to the other side of the entry, looking for an opening as Stephanie glances at me, and then she looks back to Kimberly. She drops the hand that was behind her back, and I see that Stephanie's not holding anything. She spreads her arms wide and tells Kimberly her name, and then I hear myself shout for Kimberly to get out of the way, but Kimberly doesn't move. Kimberly wants to know why Stephanie's here.

I move again and aim down the barrel of my gun as a overwhelming anxiety takes over. Stephanie's going to murder my sister. Stephanie's going to take away everything I just gained. I'll kill her before she does that. I'll kill her and protect my sister. I move my finger to the trigger and start to squeeze it when I hear Stephanie reply to Kimberly's question with three shocking words. My world crashes around me as I overhear her proclamation. The future I envisioned is in danger. My family… everything I gained today… all of it is in jeopardy as I hear Stephanie exclaim, I'm your sister!

The hardest thing that I've ever had to do…

My heart skips a beat as I drown in uncertainty, and I remove my finger from the trigger. Did Stephanie just say she was Kimberly's sister? Liar! I tightly grip my gun as I want to scream at Stephanie at the top of my lungs. She lied! It can't be true! I'm her sister. I belong to Kimberly's family, so why would she say such a thing? It's a trick and a dirty one, and I need to grab my sister and push Stephanie back out in the hallway and shut the door on her stupid lying face.

Kimberly's view...

What did you say? I exclaim after Stephanie tells me who she professes to be. Who are you really? I demand as I closely eye this weird person.

Hades! What is this person doing? Is she out of her mind showing up making such wild claims? And how did she know to find me here? Is she a Closer? Did Voice send another assassin after me? I have to know before I eliminate her.

Stephanie answers me, As I said, I'm Stephanie. Stephanie Griffin. She looks past me and sees that Katharine's aiming at her, but she waves at Katharine as if they're old friends, looks back to me, and questions me, Are you going to let me in? I came to see both of you.

Stephanie Griffin? I repeat as I'm shocked by her claim, I stand there as she pushes her way in, but then I notice the gun in her back waistband and react.

Sister my asp! I shout as I press my thumb against a fingerprint reader on a box beside the front door and the lock releases, and I quickly open it, remove a PPK, then aim the gun at this person, and order, Hold it right there! Do you really think you can barge into my home?

Stephanie's view...

Why..? What's up? I ask and then when only Pandora can see me, I wink at her, enjoying the game. This is going to be so much fun! I can’t contain my excitement!

I turn to face Ms. Griffin and raise my hands, seeing that Ms. Griffin has aimed at me, and then I act insulted, questioning her as if I'm hurt by the fact that she didn't believe me, Is this any way to greet your sister?

Kimberly's view...

Katharine, get her weapon, I order.

Okay, Katharine tells me as she limps over and removes the gun. I feel a bit worried and upset because she's having to hobble around on her injured leg, but it can't be helped in this situation. We need to deal with this weird person now. Katharine grabs her gun and takes a few labored steps back, keeping her own gun leveled on Stephanie.

You're my sister, huh? Fine, I'll play your game. If you're my sister, tell me this… Why did you come armed? I ask.

Stephanie keeps her hands raised as she answers me, It's a dangerous world out there. You know there have been reports that Un-Men are rampaging through Noir. A girl has to keep herself safe.

Fine... If you're my sister, where have you been all this time? I ask as I suspiciously glare at her, and then I question, Why show up now?

Katharine's view...

I glance at my big sis. I think Kimberly's entertaining the idea that Stephanie's her sister. The notion appalls me as I sense a sinister force creep out of the depths of my heart. I feel like I'm losing something that I just gained, and the malicious thing rising from my heart won't stand for it. I… I won't stand for it! I… I can't be paranoid. Kimberly has to know it's a lie, and she doesn't have any doubts that I'm her sister. I watch her as the two of them continue to talk, and I notice the kinds of questions she asks Stephanie. It sounds like she has doubts and if she does, she should tell me and not air them out in front of Stephanie.

I glare at Stephanie, and she winks at me again. I want to punch her. She’s doing this on purpose. I should have shot Stephanie when I had the chance. She's only here to hurt me, and she'll do anything to accomplish her goal. I glance at my big sis again. Kimberly might have doubts, but I'm so sure I'm her sister. We had a bond even before she told me about the Stable-flux R.B.C. test. Kimberly should also feel this family link and if she also feels it, Kimberly has to believe we're siblings. I know I'm right. Why else would she give me the spare room and paint my nails? Why else would she be kind and considerate to me? I'm a Griffin, not Stephanie.

I find that I'm begging her within my heart. Please... don't believe Stephanie's lies. Kimberly, believe in the fact we're family. Please… that's all you have to do. Believe in me and don't believe her lies.

Kimberly's view...

Stephanie shifts her weight, slightly drops her arms, and answers my question, I showed up now because I never knew I had a sister before today. I just recently found out. I know you won't believe me on my word alone, so I'm prepared to prove that I'm your sister.

How's that? I question as I never waver from my aim. One wrong move and I'll shoot this obnoxious person.

Don't trust her, Katharine warns me. We should have security come and get her.

Stephanie tells us, No need for them. I can prove my claim, Stephanie states as she lifts one of her arms and then she thrusts that hand forward toward me.

What's that supposed to do? I ask as I look at her outstretched hand, and then I question her, Is the answer tattooed on your arm?

No, silly, Stephanie states, and then she tells me, Nothing like that. I want you to test my blood. She pauses, and then she continues, Come on, test my blood. You have a Stable-flux R.B.C. kit, right? She motions with her head to Katharine, and then she says, It's the reason why you believe she's your sister. She has the Stable-flux R.B.C. in her bloodstream. Well... Stephanie grins at me with a hint of mischief, and then she adds, I do too, but the difference is that I am your sister. She wiggles the fingers of her extended hand as if that will make me hurry and do her bidding as she asks me, Do you have one? Do you have another kit? She urges me again as if daring me to face a truth only she believes, Come on, test my blood.

I glance into the kitchen where my purse is as I answer her, Yes, I have one left.

Katharine’s view…

Did my sister just agree to her demands? Kimberly, you can’t. Don’t believe this stupid-face lying dog of the Council! She only wants to hurt me and she’ll do anything… even hurt you to get what she wants.

Stephanie's view...

I tell Ms. Griffin, Okay then, test my blood. Test my blood and you'll see.

I contain my elated laughter that wants to burst forth like the intestines of someone I just gutted. It's way more exciting than I imagined, striking blows at Pandora's emotions are much more entertaining than physical blows.

I urge Ms. Griffin, Come on, do it. You'll see. You'll see I'm your real sister.

Chapter Two

The Delivery Man's Reaction

Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

Nexus Apartments...

Apartment G…

Minutes earlier…

Worthless machine!

Zax Olympus surveilled Apartment H. He had ordered takeout and had been eating it and for the moment, he wasn't doing anything but watching the monitors. He was perplexed that the machine wouldn't cooperate with him, he ran his hand through his hair and then yelled at it, What's wrong with you? Why won't you work? I need to know what's going on! Cerberus is there!

Oh, man. Work! Work! He smacked the top of the TV that showed a snowy picture as he yelled, Work already! There isn't any reason why you should be fizzing out on me, so work! Zax smacked the top again, and the picture cleared and showed video of the kitchen. He saw Kim sitting at the table drinking tea and relaxing a bit as he muttered, There… Worthless machine.

Dim lights lit Apartment G and classical music played in the background from a radio in the living room as Zax studied the image; it looked like he didn't miss anything, but he had to find out why Cerberus was there.

He watched as Kim got up and answered the door, then watched as Cerberus entered Apartment H, and then he yelled at the screen, Don't trust her, Katharine! Look..! She has a gun!

For several edge of his seat minutes, Zax stared without blinking. Fixated on what was happening, he watched all the way to the point where Cerberus said to test her blood. He tried to eat the Orange Chicken with chopsticks and without looking at the food, he chased a chunk of meat across the rice with the wooden utensil.

Zax's view...

There's no way… Cerberus can't be Kimberly's sister because Katharine is.

I can't peel my eyes away from the monitors. It will crush Katharine; it will be so devastating for her if she isn't.

A thought crosses my mind, distracting me from my rantings. Katharine's acting very weird around Cerberus as if they've encountered each other before. Oh, man... Is that why Cerberus was at the apartment the other day? There has to be more. Katharine acts as though she's afraid of Cerberus.

I drop another orange chunk on my uniform, and I glance down at the mess. Ah... I look at the chopsticks and mutter, I hate these things. I need a fork.

I quickly search through the takeout bag, and I find one. I stab the meat and take a bite. That's better. I turn my attention back to the monitors. What is up between Katharine and Cerberus? I have to know what their history is. I also need to inform R.G. of this new development.

Chapter Three

Stable-flux R.B.C. Test

Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

Nexus Apartments...

Apartment H...

Katharine's view…

The hardest thing…

My heart's in my throat like some jagged rock. It's lodged there, and I can't swallow to make it go back down into my chest. I pace like a caged tigress, glowering at my enemy who has put me in this small enclosure that's suspended in time as Stephanie prepares to give a sample of her blood. I clench my gun, fending off the urge to shoot her in her smug deceitful face. This is so wrong. Kimberly should have never agreed to do the test; it has to be a trick. I shake my head as Stephanie pricks her finger, and a drop of blood falls into the small slot on the test stick. This is a trick because it can't be true. My knee hurts, but I ignore the pain because other things need my attention, and I keep pacing, becoming agitated and sensing more and more of the truth-confining cage closing in on me. I have to watch Stephanie, and I have to make sure she doesn't do anything to Kimberly. I need to watch her till the truth comes out. I fist my empty left hand, knowing there can be no other actuality because I'm Kimberly's sister. I know it deep within my being. Kimberly cares about me, not this pretender. What Stephanie said before is some evil lie, and the Stable-flux R.B.C. test will prove it and once the truth comes out, then I'll... No, then we can deal with Stephanie, and me and my sister can discover her real plan. I clench my gun, staying off the urge for violence for the fifth time, but then I calm myself. I can't let my anger distract me, but I still pace like a tigress, an injured tigress. I don't understand Stephanie. Maybe she made up this lie to get close to me so she can kill me. I still don't understand why she doesn't just come right out and try to kill me. I glance down at my fist. Why can't I stop clenching my hand?

11:49 P.M…

Kimberly and Stephanie sit at the kitchen table as a small egg-shaped timer ticks away the seconds, and the sound is maddening to me. Hasn't it been five minutes yet?

Why is my sister sitting across from her? Kimberly should be standing with me hand-in-hand in a united front against Stephanie's deceitful and malicious fiction. Kimberly should be calming my fears, not adding to them. She should be telling me that she believes one hundred percent that I'm her one and only baby sister. Kimberly should be saying and doing all of those things, but she hasn't spoken to me since she agreed to the test, and she has barely glanced at me. Is she purposely ignoring me?

Stephanie's view...

I smugly watch Pandora, enjoying the grief and rage the unknown is causing my foe, and it's turning out better than I could imagine. My yellow backpack rests on my lap as I unzip a compartment, reach my hand inside, and grope for something. I don't need to kill Pandora yet, not when I'm having so much fun. I'll drag this out as long as I can. I'll drag it out, have my fun, and then eliminate them both.

I hum a tune in my mind. Playtime… Playtime… Playtime for me. Cerberus is the only one who sees… a murderous end I’ll be.

Kimberly's view...

I wish Katharine would stop pacing; it's not helping the situation. Actually, I should have made Stephanie leave the moment she started ranting lies. I get this feeling that something's not right about her. She doesn't act like someone looking to reunite with her family. Stephanie seems like she's toying with us but mostly Katharine. She's trying to hide it from me, but Stephanie's been fixated on my si…

I catch myself doubting the word I don't finish. Katharine has to be my… family. The test proves it, and I told her as much. I couldn't have lied to her. I told Katharine I wasn't lying to her. I have to be right… I can’t be wrong… I made Katharine believe me, so I have to be right.

I glance at my baby sister. I know all of this has to be upsetting her. It has only been a few hours since I told her I'm her sister and then this person shows up ruining our happy reunion.

I eye Katharine again, knowing something else is bothering her. Katharine acts as if she knows Stephanie. I should be more concerned with who she is and why Stephanie is here. I glance at the timer as I don't understand myself. I should be more suspicious of Stephanie, but I easily gave in and administered the test instead of kicking her out. Is it to prove that she's lying? Is it to prove to myself that I'm right about Katharine?

The timer rings with a loud ding, breaking the tension in the room but only for a few seconds. I take a deep breath to prepare myself for what will come next, I look at the long rectangular test stick, and I stare at it in disbelief as I utter, It's positive.

I was confident that this person was messing with us. I let the truth sink in, and then I continue, Stephanie has Stable-flux R.B.C. in her bloodstream.

I was so sure the results would be negative. This is unbelievable! The substance is supposed to be rare, and the incident happened over thirty years ago. Someone else might have been present during the First Cross-Gate Event who was pregnant. I consider it and that it's unlikely but not impossible. I also consider another possibility. Maybe one of the test sticks showed a false positive.

Katharine's view…

The hardest thing…

I don't care what the test stick says, I shout. That doesn't mean she's your sister! I'm desperate to hold on to what I have just gained, so I point my gun at Stephanie and accuse her, Maybe she did something to the test and cheated. She did something to make the results positive. I clench my jaw because I'm so angry I want to scream, but I hold it in and then continue, And just because these Staple-flux R.B.Cs. are in her blood, if it's true, it doesn't mean she's your sister.

I can see it in her smug stupid face. Stephanie's enjoying this, and it's making me even more furious. I have to do something before I explode. I can't let her ruin my happy reunion with my sister. I need to figure out a way to get her out of our apartment, but more importantly, I have to find out what she has planned for me. She wouldn't have come in here without a plan.

Stephanie’s view...

Is that a fact? I ask Pandora as I cross my arms, and then I state, You know that goes the same for you.

What do you mean? Pandora questions as she still points the gun at me.

She doesn't understand my meaning. I guess I'll have to explain it. I watch her as she limps to the end of the kitchen and leans on the counter for support. Poor thing... she must still be in pain after what I did to her, but she's trying to hide the fact that she's hurt. She's so cute. I just want to eat her up... Eat her up and gobble her down... but first I will totally destroy her.

Pandora repeats herself when I don't answer her, What do you mean?

It's too easy for me... just look how effortlessly I upset Pandora. I take a moment to let her bask in the light of my brilliantly executed game of deception, and then I reply, I was just saying even though you have these R.B.Cs. in your blood, it doesn't mean you're her sister either. Anyway– I put a hand on my hip as I continue, –which of us looks more like Ms. Griffin? I point to myself and then to Pandora as I inquire, You or me?

Katharine's view...

Shut up! I snap and glance at Kimberly, realizing I never considered how different we look. Most would say I'm plain-looking, and yet the two of them are very pretty. Theresa was also very pretty, but maybe I take on more of our father's physical traits. I could also have traits from… I stop myself. Stephanie played me good this time. I fell headfirst into this lie. I'm so insecure. I can't deny who I am. I'm Katharine Griffin. I know I'm part of Kimberly's family and nothing Stephanie says can change that. I force myself to ignore the facts, turn to Stephanie, and bark, What are you trying to say?

Come on, look, Stephanie replies as she grabs a clump of her golden locks, and then she says, I have blonde hair and blue-green eyes and so does Ms. Griffin. She lets