Depth of Silence

By Hayden Barry

The year is 655 and everything has gone according to plan in Caspian and Eulir, the last two towns known to humanity. There have been no intrusions, no outside influences, no breaches in the protective wall that separates the humans from the outside world. Yet amidst the prosperity, an old enemy, the Shadows, is waiting to rise.
Ruthless attacks from these Shadows leave humanity with two options: fight back, or be annihilated. Caspite Rei Marcotte and Eulirian Dakota Carton unite against the wishes of their peers, creating a new military branch named the Phantom Regiment.
Against all the progress that is made, humanity’s numbers are only cut down as the number of attacks increase. Will the Phantom Regiment have enough time to discover the weakness of the Shadows before every beating heart is frozen over? Or will an uncontrollable black mist forever plague the human race?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329603950

Book preview

Depth of Silence

DEPTH OF SILENCE

By Hayden Barry

Copyright

© 2014-2015 Hayden Barry

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

11 May 2014-31 July 2015

DISCLAIMER

-some strong language-

-violent and/or mildly gory moments-

-possible triggering moments-

All Photos Provides By:

Hayden Barry

Book and Jacket Design By:

Hayden Barry

Acknowledgements

The first person I would have to thank for this book is my mom, who dealt with me constantly asking questions about this book and ranting about what should happen next.  She is by far my biggest supporter, and I couldn't have finished this without her.

An immense thank you to Lilian Carmine (@liliancarmine on Wattpad) also.  I wouldn't have found Wattpad if I didn't somehow stumble across her book The Lost Boys when I was in eighth grade.

Lastly, a thank you to my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Calhoun.  I still cannot tell if the encouragement she gave me all those years ago was merely her way of saying her goodbye to me or if she truly believed that I should continue writing, but she made me believe I could do it.

Pronunciations

Places

Caspian — CAS-pee-in

Eulir — yoo-LEER

Agis — a-JIS

Ithene — ith-EN

People

Division 001 Soldiers

Rei Marcotte — rAy  MAR-cot

Lucas Ackworth — LOO-cas  AK-worth

Dakota Carton — DA-cote-a  CAR-ton

Celia DeSantis — SEA-lee-a  d-SANT-iss

Riley Vega — rye-LEE  VAY-ga

Graham Vega — grAm  VAY-ga

Thomas Greene — tom-AS  grEEn

Teajan Sykora — TEE-gin  SI-core-a)

Other Soldiers

Austin Keyes — AW-stin  KEE-s

Aubree Hoey — AW-bree  HO-ee

Terry Danner — TER-ri  DAN-er

Greg Tharp — grEg thArp

Conner O'Brein — CON-er  o-BRI-an

Arianna Marx — are-EE-anna  mArks

Benji Fite — BEN-gee fIght

Prologue

It never really disappeared.  Summer or winter, windy or rainy, it always showed up at precisely ten in the morning.  It would roam the streets like a king soaked in a thick layer of paint, leaving a calming, pale trail of white behind.  The citizens were quite fond of it, although no one in particular could explain why.  No one could even describe it as a warm embrace, as the air turned quite chilled when it arrived, but it brought people peace.  Almost as if the air was seasoned with a hidden toxin, a sickly-sweet elixir, everyone fell asleep as the cloud passed by them, and woke up when it left.  This would usually only take an hour of someone's schedule, and since the majority of people's days began at four in the morning, no one minded the quick nap.

It's when it started changing colors that everyone began to feel uncomfortable.  A second wave of mist, now a deep gray or black, would appear at odd times.  No one would fall asleep while it roamed through the streets; instead, they were forced to watch the horrors that would unfold.  Sometimes people would witness some of the black mist congregate into a single strand and shove itself down a person's throat like it was being sucked down by a vacuum cleaner enloged in the human's gut.  Other times, people were unlucky enough to be attacked by their best friend while their skin was tainted a deep charcoal.  Inky liquid would drip from their monstrous pointed teeth as they lean over a dying carcass, their hands gripping the person's neck as hard as they can.

There is only one way to stop the killings and return humanity: find the source of the black mist and capture it.  Everyone must learn from the invaders if they wish to stop being invaded.  The only way to grow up is to fight back.

Chapter 1

14 May, Year 655

East Caspian, 09:22 — Rei Marcotte

At this point, I guess I was considered an adult.  It was time for me to sign my name on a piece of paper and sell my soul to the government.  My dreams would have to be cut down to those few hours of unconsciousness while the sun was in hiding, and my explorations would have to cease for as long as my heart continued beating.  But, really, I wasn't ready to give those up.  I don't think I ever will be, either.  Even when my bones are as frail as a glass vase and my hands permanently and distinctly shake, I know for a fact my eyes will shine as bright as ever, hungry to indulge on the delicacies the world has to offer; the surges of frothy water bluer than the endless sky; the canopies of leaves as green as ten miles of grass; the meadows of flowers humming with the gentle buzz of bees flying in the air.  One day, I would be able to see the mysterious and forbidden secrets of freedom with my own eyes.

The closest way to avoiding my adult responsibilities would be by joining the military, specifically the Falcon Squad.  They were the ones who would hunt for food, gather resources, and travel along trade routes in the name of Caspian by going outside of the walls at least once a week.  Even at that rate, though, I'd never be able to reach the freedom I yearned for.  We were afraid, us Caspites.  The thought of expansion terrifies us.  The thought of what lurks in the unknown strikes fear into everyone's heart.  No one dared to bring up the idea of finding ourselves, of inviting the enemy in and discovering where we lay in the world, if there really was one out there.  Instead, we praised the one hundred foot brick walls that kept us separated from all unknown terrors.  We were safe with it.  Ignorant and afraid, but safe.

What're you doing up here, Marcotte?

Ah, finally.  I was wondering when I'd hear his exasperated sigh.  It's been a while since I've beat him to his post—he's usually out here by the crack of dawn.  Of course, I didn't mind the extra dozen minutes of staring at the emerald trees that stretched as far as the eye could see.  They swarmed my entire view except for a small wall very much alike to the one surrounding Caspian, but a pearly white.  It created the home of Eulir, around two hours away by foot and filled with those privileged enough to never work a single day in their lifetime.  However stuck-up the citizens may be, Eulir's presence made me feel less alone.

The muffled clicking of shoes inched closer to where I was sitting, so with one final inhale of the fresh forest breeze, I lifted my dangling legs from the side of the wall.  Rather than turn all the way around, though, I sat along the length of the top of the wall, my back pressed against the machicolation and my knees pressed to my chest.  Who knows, maybe he'd let me stay here just a while longer?

Mornin', Lucas, I grinned at him.

I was pleasantly surprised at how his eyes were like strips of leaves and how his hair seemed to reflect the color of the sun.  It was always more impressive looking when it was closest to nature itself, unlike on the dirty grounds of Caspian.

Rei, you know I hate seeing you up here, he frowned.  He slipped his left arm under my knees and his right arm behind my lower back so he could lift me up off the edge.  You're not allowed to be up here, and I don't want someone informing me that you fell off the edge because you wanted to see a bird closer up!

Aw, c’mon, I'm not that dumb! I whined.  I just can't believe you get to stay up here all day!

Trust me, you get used to it after being up here for six years.  Literally all they are, are trees.  As of now, you're not in the military, so you're not allowed to-

Private!

Lucas briskly returned my feet to the ground and scrambled to compose himself.  He swung his arm upwards to salute General Zonen, who was approaching us.  My plan was to look reasonably attentive and innocent, but Lucas nearly whacked my nose off while acknowledging the general, which left me staggering to regain my balance.  That being said, I don't think I made the best impression.

"Ah, my apologies.  I mean corporal.  At ease, Ackworth, the general ordered.  Who is this girl, and why is she up here?"

She's Rei Marcotte, a civilian.  I was just about to escort her downstairs, sir.  She must have wandered up here before I got to my station.

And isn't it true that civilians are not permitted up here in the battlement?

No, he's right, that's my fault, General Zonen, I interjected quickly.  Ah, Lucas here tells me all the time to not come up here, but I ignore him because... I'm his friend and that's what I'm... supposed to do.  I want to be in the Falcon Squad some day, so I'm, uh, seeing what I'm getting myself into?

The general ever so slightly crinkled his nose at the title Falcon Squad.  Lucas, however, was the equivalent to a guard in the Realm Patrol.  Caspian hardly ever got attacked by anything (which was good for the government since it kept people aloof), but we were still issued to have a corps who stood lookout on the walls.  I could spend all day drooling over the scenery with my best friend, but I'd much rather go out there and examine things closer.

Even if you have an interest in the military, you are not allowed to be up here.  I trust you won't tell anyone of what you have seen, miss?  I nodded in agreement.  I'll let you go this time since you're a friend of one of my best men, but I'd better not see you up here again unless it is under orders.

Yes sir, General Zonen!

Before I swung myself over the protective rails and slid down the metal ladder, I gave Lucas a small We cool? punch on his arm.  I couldn't help but chuckle as I waltzed out of the base.  Lucas one of the general's best men?  I knew he'd been in the Realm Patrol for, what, six years now?  But I had no idea that he was, well, good.  He never hinted at it before or anything.

Cobblestone roads echoed the sounds of sputtering automobiles and clicking shoes off the brick walls of houses and businesses that lined the path.  I turned down a narrow alley that served as a shortcut to my house, and the noise became muffled.  Most Caspites would say it's because it leads away from the busy roads, but I suspected it was because the sound had a hard time bouncing off the buildup of filth encrusting the side of every building.  Broken glass and the smell of smoke lingered in dark corners, but it wasn't that bad.  I've seen worse here.  Even the occasional slime-sheathed garbage can failed to make me shiver in fearful disgust.  Doorknobs, though?  That'd be gross.  I actually touch those.

I will admit, the exterior of my house was one of the nicer ones on my street.  I've spent many a night out there.  The layout was the same as every other house, but it just looked more tasteful, with the colors of the brick matching the roof's shingles and whatnot.  Of course, it would've looked a whole lot better if there wasn't a careless three-year-old politely clearing his nasal canals and wiping his gooey hand on the side of our house.  Thank you citizens of Caspian, in all your dignified glory.

Where were you? my mother asked me as soon as I opened the door.

You know, out and about, I replied sliding my burlap backpack off my shoulder.  Just came back to get some snacks.

She didn't approve of me getting into trouble, so she didn't have to know what I was up to.  In addition to that, I assured the general that I wouldn't speak a word about it to anyone.  Or something like that.  Anyway, she hardly ever cared about what I did.  I could walk into the house at oh-three-hundred with lipstick all over my mouth and a skirt as short as General Zonen's temper and she'd probably think she was seeing the ghost of years past.  Her past, of course.  I'm still young enough to remember it's polite to feed those who live with you.

Were you trying to look over that wall again?

Alright, so maybe I'd been using the same line too often.

I believe that answer is disclosed, I reported, cringing as the words left my mouth.

Haven't I told you to stay away from there?  I knew that Ackworth kid was a bad influence from the start.  Being around people who catch a glimpse of the outside world makes you crazy, you know! she rebuked me with flailing arms.

There's nothing wrong with Lucas! I defended.  You know, General Zonen is actually really fond of him!  He trains a lot and he's good at what he does.  You were there when I first became friends with Lucas, and he was nowhere close to the military acceptance age!  My fascination with what's beyond the walls is due to my imagination and that alone.  You're allowed to have a problem with me, but not with him.

I shoved the rest of the granola bars I was thefting into my bag and exited the house as promptly as I had entered.  Told you I spent a lot of my time outside my house.  Believe it or not, there was a time my mom liked Lucas.  It was before he joined the Realm Patrol and became corrupted.  After that, it was like she tried to blame anything and everything she could on him.  Maybe there were too many birds in the park, not enough carrots harvested, dumb things like that.

I could only think of one place to go at a time like this, unless I wanted to simmer in anger next to that kid's snot.  About two-thirds of the way to the Ackworth household, the mist came around.  That's another important point.  At ten-hundred everyday, there was this... mist.  I just don't know how else to describe it.  This, like, thick fog rolls in and makes everyone fall asleep, indoors or outdoors.  I hear it happens in Eulir, too.  It's only for an hour, but I can't help but admit that it's terribly odd.

Central Eulir, 11:45 — Dakota Carton

Ready, Dakota?

Oh great, this again.  Don't get me wrong, I loved going to the Military Academy, but every day?  It wasn't a laziness factor or even an I-don't-feel-like-learning mood that caught me, just that day in and day out, every action was the same.  Wake up, eat some food, learn some things, have a lunch break, continue learning, visit the market, eat more food still, and sleep.  Repeat.

"I know what you're thinking, Kote, but yes, we're going.  We went yesterday, we're going today, we'll go tomorrow, and so on.  You know how important education is," Celia admonished me.

Only as important as the rest of the drabby world.

In a split second, a burning spiked up on my left cheek, slowly fanning across the side of my face.

Did you just slap me? I asked in bewilderment.

Well, it gets annoying when you're so negative all the time! she huffed.

"You slapped me! I repeated, holding the injured spot in my hand. You actually... who just does that to people?"

She crossed her arms and muttered, I figured it'd stop you from being a downer.

Wait, is it noticeable? I questioned a bit too shrilly for my liking.

It's, uh… Her face contorted and she squinted an eye.  I mean, it's red.  Obviously.  People may not notice it if they don't make... direct eye contact.  But hey! You seem much more energetic now!  Your pessimist nature retreated... a bit!

"It's realism, not pessimism," I grumbled.  The grandfather clock tolled thirteen times.  T minus ten minutes to get to the Academy.  I opened the door to my house, allowing the white sunlight to mesh with the yellow tinge of electricity.  Normally, I would've had a car to drive us, but my parents weren't that thrilled with me at the time, so I had been put on probation.  Unfortunately, both of us forgot about the setback.

Alright, use your realism powers, then.  How long's it gonna take us to walk to class?

About seventeen minutes, at least.

So I guess we're running.

Celia grabbed a chunk of her pink skirt, lifted it off the ground, and began to run.  Now, when I say run, I mean more of a jog, not that action movie karate-chop-hands-make-you-go- faster stuff.  Eulir was a very monotone town.  All who talked did so quietly, all who walked did so slowly.  All who ran made sure to not actually go too fast.  We were a very achroous town with buildings made out of an elegant and unblemished white stone and smooth, light-colored roads.  So while we were classy, I questioned how effective our swanky practices were.

A slight minute before our session began, Celia and I slipped into our classroom inside a building that was located in the town center.  Our peers snickered a little as a disapproving glance from our instructor bored into us, but hey, we technically weren't late!  As soon as I took my assigned seat, the bell rang out, signifying the start to the second half of my day.

The MA wasn't a normal learning facility, or else I would have called it something more of a school.  All the classes were about applying techniques to either the Raid Force or the Sheath Brigade-the hunters and soldiers of Eulir.  It was for those who assured their hearts were given up to the military and the town.  Truthfully, I didn't see what the appeal of the Sheath Brigade was.  We had friends, Graham and Riley