HIDDEN

By HC Jackson

A seemingly normal field trip ends with Marya and her friends gaining wings and fantastical powers. A 500-year old book tells the tale of people just like them, but there's more to the story. Red eyes haunt Marya's past and might determine her future. How far will she go for answers?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HC Jackson
• Release date: Mar 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781736586013

Book preview

HIDDEN

PERSPECTIVES BOOK 1

HC JACKSON

Copyright © 2021 by HC Jackson.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the email below.

HC Jackson

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Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Editing by Abby Gale

Book Layout ©2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

Cover art made on PicMonkey.com

HIDDEN/ HC Jackson. -- 1st ed.

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-7365860-0-6

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-7365860-1-3

Contents

November 23rd, 1386- 365 days since the Separation

A Beginning

Everything is Irritating

Red Eyes

Be Calm

Biology is Weird

The Triplets

A Book

More News

Bitterness

Authority Issues

Transformation

Hope

A New Arrival

Connections

Testing New Limits

We Know what’s Best for You

Jumping Off Rooftops to Get a Girlfriend

Remembering What’s Been Lost

The Other Side of the Coin

Boston Runs on Munchin’s

Luminita Lupei

A Fruitless Endeavor

Violent Memories

Fresh Wounds

Breathtaking

Conversations with a CEO

Flight of the Teenagers

Breaking Free

Leaving For Real

Marya’s Guide to Planning a Heist

It’s Heist Time, Baby

Almost Dying Will Not Stop Us

July 14th, 1383

To my ex who complained about the diversity in this—I hope you hate this should you ever find it

Death is a part of life and don’t be a coward.

― ME, when presenting an improv research presentation to a bunch of freshmen, 2019

Prologue

November 23rd, 1386- 365 days since the Separation

T

oday marks a year since my friends threw me out. A year since Ceilie blinded me, since I was scorned and treated like Mom’s people, someone misunderstood and feared...

I wonder what you would look like now, Dad. Would your beard begin to gray, like everyone else’s? I think I asked Mom that once, but she said it would not, not for a long while. Mom said I took after you in so many ways, and I think she is right, though my beard is curlier than I remember yours being. I think that’s Mom’s side coming out, but it could also just be that you always kept yours short.

It would have been nice to meet my relatives. Mom would talk about the siblings who died in the Great Mortality, and I remember you mentioning some of your kids before Amaliel and I. I wish we could have met them. We’d probably be the shortest in the bunch!

Damn, now I am really feeling how alone I am out here. Nights like this used to be fun and filled with stories and jokes, but now it is just me. At least I have my memories of us as a family, still to-gether and alive like when I was ten, before...you know.

Do you think Ceilie and the others were my friends at all? Were they just using me to get to know their own fathers? I am glad I got to know you before you died, but maybe they were jealous. Or maybe it was the indoctrination that they grew up with, blinding them from the Truth.

I wonder how Mom and Amaliel are doing. It has been, what, six years since I have seen them? Amaliel had only been eight when I had left. Maybe I should go visit her and Mom. And your grave. It would be good to remind myself of what I am fighting for.

You would love the view out here, Dad. The stars are so bright, surrounded by astounding colors that seem to flow through the night like those baby weasels we used to watch play. I wonder if you would recognize any of the constellations from this time of year. I know Mom taught you all of them, but she also used to tease you about your forgetfulness. I miss those times when she would knock you off your high horse. I wonder if that is one of the reasons why you loved her.

Tomorrow is another long day of travel, and the fire is dying.

I miss you, Dad.

ONE

A Beginning

T

here was blood on the wrap she had around her knuckles, spotting through the cloth with each punch she threw. The punching bag was worse, stuffing popped out in random places and the seams had been restitched multiple times over, swinging each time her fist connected with its leather surface. Her chest heaved with exhaustion as she switched to kicks, bringing down her shin as hard as she could.

She kicked the bag off its hook with a guttural shout, watching it hit the matted floor with a solid thump. A feral smirk grew on her lips at the sight, her body shaking from the effort of her workout. She caught a glance of her bloody knuckles.

‘Red...no. No! I just got done getting all the stress out, now is not the time!’ She thought, feeling her breath hitch at the sight. Teeth clenched, she forced herself to not look at her hands and wandered over to where her phone was resting.

‘Damnit, it’s almost ten already?’ She frowned as she checked the time. ‘I should probably be getting to bed, gotta get up early for that dumb field trip I’ve already been on a thousand times. I really hope those new exhibits are interesting…’

Sweeping up her phone and a small towel, she wandered upstairs from the basement, each step light on the creaking steps. As she made the transition from the ground floor to the second floor of the house, she noticed that the TV was still on, the glaring light illuminating her adoptive father’s silhouette on the couch. He turned to her as she ascended the stairs.

Night, Marya!

Night, Markus. She deadpanned, heading straight for the shower as she started to unwrap her knuckles, pointedly not looking at them. Marya showered quickly and dressed for bed, creeping softly into her room.

‘I don’t want to go to school tomorrow.’ She sighed to herself, exhaustion pulling at her eyelids. ‘It’s going to be boring as hell…’

Without ceremony, Marya flopped onto her bed and pulled her duvet over herself, letting herself slip into sleep.

***

The morning light filtered through the shutters, accompanied by the school-morning noise that always woke her up. Marya’s eyes snapped open at the repeated shouting of her name. She rolled over with a groan, trying her best to ignore the hollering as it got steadily louder.

Marya, it’s time to get up! You’re already running behind schedule! The sound of Kathryn’s voice was almost at her door now.

‘Nope. Not today. Tired. Nope.’ Her half-awake brain protested. Marya felt the firm hand of her adoptive mother on her arm and resisted her pull. Kathryn tried to roll her over again, but she threw her shoulder forward to avoid it.

"Marya, it is time to get up."

The notion of weekdays is a man-made concept, it’s not natural. She mumbled.

"The notion of weekdays is what our lives are governed by. Get up."

Leave my room and maybe I will.

Kathryn huffed and exited the room, the door bouncing off the doorframe from the force of the closing. Marya sat up and looked at the sleeping form of her cat at the foot of her bed, her black-smoke and white furball completely unaware of the event that had just gone down.

Some help you are, Rusalka. She yawned and stretched before gently removing the covers so she didn’t disturb Rusalka from her slumber. After closing the door, Marya paused at her reflection in the full-body mirror Kathryn and Markus had gotten her two years ago for her thirteenth birthday. Despite going to bed earlier than usual the previous night, the blackish-purple bags under her Arctic Ocean eyes seemed darker than usual. Her natural waves had dried into frizzy curls overnight, highlighting the ugly white scar that cut through half her face.

‘Freak,’ The word she had been called for years by her peers floated through her thoughts like a cloud of gnats, staring at her scar in her reflection. ‘Monster,’

‘Ugh, it’s too early for this.’ Marya grimaced at her reflection for a moment longer before huffing and moving to the laundry basket next to her dresser to grab some fresh clothes. Within minutes, she was dressed and on her way downstairs, each footstep quiet.

Good morning Marya! Her older sister Lillian smiled brightly at her as she stumbled over the last step of the stairs.

Yeah. Marya waved her off as she approached the kitchen counter. Lillian snorted and turned in her chair to continue eating her breakfast. She sat down next to her and blinked wearily at the plate of pancakes that was slid in front of her before picking one up and taking a bite.

Marya! Use utensils! Kathryn scolded her. Marya stared at her defiantly as she shoved the rest of her pancake into her mouth, chewing slowly. She looked at the time and swallowed.

Are we taking the bus this morning or is Markus driving?

"Your dad is already at work, so it’s the bus this morning." Kathryn narrowed her brown eyes before turning to the stove again to switch it off. Marya scoffed and picked up her plate of pancakes to take them upstairs with her to finish getting ready.

***

Marya, come look!

Marya turned her head to look in the direction of the familiar voice that had called her name as she stepped onto the school bus after Lillian. She quickly zeroed in on the two familiar boys sharing the same seat they have for the past four years, all the way in the back. Ciro was waving his phone in the air to get her attention, a cheery smile plastered on his naturally tan face. Bryce was in the seat with him, only his ginger curls visible above the dark gray seat in front of them. Marya scooted her way down the center aisle and sat down in the seat across from them. Ciro immediately shoved his phone in her face.

"Look at them! Aren’t they adorable?" Ciro smiled, his dark amber eyes glimmering with excitement. Marya looked at the screen contents. It was a picture of a terrarium with three small lizards with spiked features.

‘I’m surprised his parents even let him get pets. Can’t believe they relented after him badgering them about it since sixth grade.’ She raised an eyebrow at the picture. Adorable. What species?

They’re bearded dragons!

He’s still trying to name them. Bryce commented, not looking up from his own phone.

Bryce says I should name them after government whistleblowers, but I don’t really like that idea. Ciro rolled his eyes before looking pointedly at Bryce. Marya glanced over at Bryce with an eyebrow arched. He shrugged.

Ciro asked for a theme, and I delivered.

"I want to name them after my favorite spices, but I can’t decide which ones are my favorites."

Well, therein lies your problem. Marya leaned against the window and twisted one of her black waves through her fingers. Name them after Roman emperors, I’m sure your parents would approve of that.

That’s what my sister said to do!

Where’s Lukas and Colton? Bryce asked her, looking around the bus as it started moving. Marya shrugged and looked out her seat’s window.

Lukas probably had to help his dad with the triplets. Don’t care about Colton though.

So, what do you think the field trip will be like? Ciro put his phone away to put his head on Bryce’s slim shoulder and poked his heavily freckled cheek. Bryce pushed him away, his face beet red.

"Annoying and boring, now stop that! Personal boundaries, Ciro!"

"Aaawww come onnnn! It’ll be cool! Skeletons and science, dude! And we’re best bros, it’s fine!"

"Biology is the most boring and hard subject ever! And bros respect personal boundaries, bro!"

Marya rolled her eyes and put her earbuds in to tune out their bickering, the bus coming to another stop a few minutes later. Seconds after the bus had stopped, Marya was shoved against the window and poked in the nose. She jolted and turned to look at her assailant. Her assailant grinned at her. She frowned back.

Excited for the field trip, Ebony?

Ebony nodded excitedly, her short mess of blue and green curls bobbing. Marya looked past her to see her twin, Aurora, also sharing the seat with them. Aurora smiled apologetically at her in greeting, which she ignored. Marya turned her music up louder and watched as Ebony and Aurora turned to Ciro and Bryce. Ciro had pulled out his phone again and was showing the twins the pictures of his new bearded dragons, his dark eyes sparkling as he swiped through each picture. Bryce occasionally looked up before putting his own earbuds in and pressed himself against the side of the bus in an effort to avoid Ciro’s wild gesturing.

Marya sighed. ‘This is going to be a long day.’

TWO

Everything is Irritating

M

arya jumped when Lukas plopped into his seat next to her, laying his head on her shoulder and letting out a frustrated groan. She looked up from her book on Mesopotamian civilizations to glance at him before resuming reading.

Rough morning? She asked after a few seconds had passed.

"Yesss..." Lukas groaned again, pushing his head against her shoulder more and gathering his knees in his arms.

‘It’s funny how he’s able to fold himself like that considering how tall he is.’ She glanced at her best friend’s head again, a tiny smile tugging at her lips before looking away. You can vent if you wish.

"Okay so, Magnus decided he needed to wake everyone up at three am this morning by setting off the house alarm to go find bugs in the backyard, Lukas sat up briefly to stretch out his shoulders, yawning. He ran a pale hand through his white hair before laying his head on her shoulder again. Then, Monika wanted to go with him, which sucks because they decided to go out of the backyard and into the woods, so Dad and I had to wake up Claudia-- who was somehow still asleep? -- and take her with us to go find them."

Marya bumped her head against his in sympathy.

Thanks. So yeah. It took like, thirty minutes to find them. Dad was so mad...

I’ve never seen your dad mad before. What’s it like? Aurora butted in, leaning her chair backwards to be included in the conversation. Lukas batted a hand at her long blonde curls.

"It’s the scariest shit ever. I’m haunted by the rare times I’ve made him mad."

It’s almost time to leave! Ebony signed as she leaned back in her chair, pausing to point at the clock on the wall. Do you think if we leave now, we can get good seats on the bus?

Ebony, we aren’t allowed to go to the buses until we’re told to, Aurora frowned at her twin sister softly. You need to be patient.

Ebony stuck her tongue out at Aurora in response before pulling out her inhaler and taking a deep breath. Marya rolled her eyes and looked down at her book again.

Do you think the Sea Creatures in Glass section has been updated? Lukas lifted his head off her shoulder.

Aurora scoffed. I doubt it, those things probably take forever to make.

"Okay, but still, they’re so cool." Marya could hear the smile in his tone.

I just hope the Earth and Planet section has some new exhibits. It’s been years since I’ve last been there. She looked up briefly to see Aurora smiling dreamily. They better have some of the meteorite fragments from that meteor shower in 2013.

The one that happened in Russia? Lukas had put his head back on Marya’s shoulder. She followed his eyes to her scabbed knuckles and stuck her tongue out at him. He returned the gesture as he continued to talk with Aurora.

Mmhm. I bet the fragments are beautiful!

You’re such a nerd, Aurora.

I don’t need that from you, I get it from Ebony enough! Aurora prodded Lukas playfully, her tone teasing. Marya looked up at the clock above the projector just as their homeroom teacher walked in and clapped her hands together with a smile.

Alright! Time to get on the buses guys!

Marya closed her book and tucked it into the small bag she had brought with her that day. Ebony leaped out of her chair, taking a puff of her inhaler as the chair clattered on the floor, and grabbed hers and Aurora’s backpacks before sprinting out of the classroom.

"Why does she always do this?"

***

There is literally nothing here that interests me. Bryce frowned as Marya and the others were crowded into the Yalvard Museum of Natural History foyer with the rest of the sophomore class. The bus ride to Boston had taken over an hour thanks to the usual morning traffic, souring Marya’s mood.

Can I get everyone’s attention please? Ms. Johnson, their biology teacher, standing on one of the cafe chairs to look down on the sea of heads. For a moment, the overlapping conversations of Marya’s peers only got louder as it echoed through the large room. "Can I get everyone’s attention please?"

The loud chatter reduced to occasional whispered comments. Ms. Johnson took a deep breath and began the same field trip safety speech that Marya had been hearing from her school district since elementary school. She tuned Ms. Johnson