Into the Eververse: Detected

By Alice Evelynn

Alice Evelynn finds herself in a new, unfamiliar world with only Billy as a companion. Now in 21st century New York, Alice must find a way to save the world from the impending apocalypse, but she will not be alone. Equipped with the knowledge of the past, she must find her siblings - wherever they are - and uncover the mysterious relics. Only one problem remains: just who is responsible for the end of the world?

Ryan Archer, a man who humans may refer to as “a killer with a credit card”, comes to New York with a purpose. He knows of stories of a young woman with the power of all, a Unique who is destined for great things, and he must join her before the world succumbs to darkness.

Will these two extraordinary beings be destined to save the world? Or will they kill each other before that happens?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398463608

Alice Evelynn

Author of Into the Eververse: 1-13, Alice studies writing and publishing at the University of Derby. An avid reader and content creator herself, she hopes to inspire others to write, to read, or to do whatever makes one happy and hopeful.

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About the Author

Author of Into the Eververse: 1-13, Alice studies writing and publishing at the University of Derby. An avid reader and content creator herself, she hopes to inspire others to write, to read, or to do whatever makes one happy and hopeful.

Dedication

To Josh

Copyright Information ©

Alice Evelynn 2023

The right of Alice Evelynn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398463592 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398463608 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my friends and family who stay beside me through thick and thin. Without them, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have made it to book two. I would like to just leave a small message of gratitude, even though it may not look like it all the time, I am immensely grateful for everyone and everything.

Note

Warnings to take note of beforehand:

This book contains graphic depictions of violence, rape, death and sexual assault.

This book may not be for everyone and is not for the faint hearted. I feel it is within my duty as the author to warn my readers before they pick this book up. It is never easy to say what each individual person finds disturbing therefore read with discretion.

Sequel

(noun)

Published, broadcast or recorded work that continues the story or develops the theme of an earlier one.

Something that takes place after one or as the result of an earlier event.

The next chapter to Alice Evelynn’s story in which she has found herself in the heart of the 21st century, New York City, and in the middle of the adventure of a lifetime to prevent the apocalypse that will destroy all life on earth as it’s known. :)

Chapter 1

Returning to the Story

Ah, welcome back.

I was wondering if you would return to open this book, especially after reading the first. I suppose I should congratulate you on coming back but I probably shouldn’t either. It may have not been the greatest idea to come back and delve further into my story; however, if you are of the mature mind and are capable of making your own decisions, I must recount where I left off unless it’s about whether tomato ketchup goes in the fridge or the cupboard because that is a debate that may last several years.

If you remember correctly, you will know that I am on a quest of sorts, to save the world from an impending apocalypse caused by someone of this world… but also not of this world, if you can catch my drift.

The reason I have decided to cut my story into sectors, pizza slices if you will, is so that your little mortal minds don’t snap completely in half as that would not be favourable to you now…would it? In order to save the world, I have to find four relics from another world that is not like our own. I already have two of these mystical relics, I just have to find the other two. If you recall, I was giving a supernatural entity a piggyback but if you can’t quite remember because it was too much to comprehend, I shall remind you.

Since I was a little girl, I have been host to an immortal soul who goes by the name of Dracoria. Now, Dracori is a creature from another universe. From what she has told me, she was from a place known as Talon or Enternalore, depending on whose perspective you look from. Her father, Taarvetti, banished her from her home and sent her to their version of Hell, to rule over it as punishment but until not long ago, she never actually told me what the truest reason was for her exile.

No matter though.

Her father gave her, and her three siblings, a special orb each that was supposed to balance out the life which we live in. I know the whereabouts of Dracoria’s Evergyro and her sister, Allianna’s, but Draco’s and Jakola’s still needed to be found. Dracoria’s Evergyro is the reason that time exists and controls the way time moves and I often think to myself that was the reason that she chose to be with me for I too can manipulate time and bend it in order to do what I desired. I would like to think that I didn’t abuse my power but unfortunately, I used it to do things that I really shouldn’t.

Allianna’s Evergyro is currently with my sister, Crystal. Her Evergyro controls memory. In some cultures, my sister is believed to be the tooth fairy due to her transparent wings and sparkling enamel, this of course is not what she would see herself as this being of fiction but that was how she saw her little fairies that floated around her kingdom but they had been without their queen for some time… I’ll get to that later.

Now, I left you all on a bit of a cliff-hanger, didn’t I? Perhaps I should apologise, the anticipation must be rather painful. I suppose that you are curious to know what happen when Billy and I were arrested by that detective and what followed afterwards. Let’s recap that.

What happened next wasn’t something that I was expecting. I didn’t even close my eyes as the pain exploded in my forehead. I could hear the faint sound of screams as I collapsed backwards onto the ground. However, if you have been reading carefully and now understand, at least to some extent, what I am actually capable of then you would already know that a mere bullet in the skull would not kill me. Then again, if you hadn’t been reading and had simply skimmed across the pages in order to gain some manner of information about me… you would not be expecting the blood to climb back into the wound and seal it shut.

That is what happened.

I clambered up, some of the red liquid had stained my face. The stranger stammered and dropped the gun to the ground, cowering in front of us. The only sound was the distant sound of the riot on the street behind us. I glanced over to Billy. He was smirking smugly at the man that was shaking harshly. So, some people cannot comprehend the unique.

Who are you? I demanded to him, scowling at him.

He stuttered and shook his head, expecting it all to be some bad dream. Holmes, he said. Detective William Holmes, NYPD.

NYPD eh? I nodded to him. Well then—

You’re her. Aren’t you?

Billy shrugged at him. Depends on who you mean.

Well, we all know who you are. Detective Holmes sank into himself. You’re… Alice Evelynn.

How do you know who I am?

He pointed behind me. I turned around to see a statue in the deep depths of the background. Erm… what the fuck is that?

Oh yeah! Billy laughed, clapping his hands. When we were kids, we stopped those bombers. I’m guessing that you do not remember that one, eh Teenie?

I shook my head, turning back to the detective on the ground. So, I suppose you need to arrest us.

He nodded, composing himself. Yes. I do, he took two pairs of handcuffs from his pocket and clasped our wrists together. Sorry about this, nothing personal.

Yeah yeah, I mumbled, feeling the metal tighten around my wrists. Let’s just get this over with, shall we?

What are you doing? Billy whispered to me, slightly panicked.

Well, dear brother, I began to say, as I’m sure you recall, Angel said that her family works in the NYPD, correct? This just means that we don’t have to waste time looking.

Ah, Billy realised, so what you are saying is that we should be arrested by this lot and then try to gain their favour… one problem though… They hate Uniques.

I shrugged. Just because we’re illegal doesn’t mean that we’re hated.

Billy glared at me. Don’t know if you noticed this, sis, but he’s a cop, cops tend to hate what they work with.

I shrugged once more. Billy, we have to save the world, one problem at a time eh?

Billy sighed at me and shook his head.

Come on, you two, Holmes ordered, in the car.

We conformed to his demands and followed him to his car. Billy was shaking in fear the whole time, whilst I kept my cool. I wasn’t entirely sure if this was going to work but what I did know was that this was definitely New York and it was most likely in the year of 2000. The only thing that I did not know was where the hell Jakola’s Evergyro was.

All caught up?

Good. Now, let’s continue.

*

Sitting in the clean-cut detective’s car, I looked through the stained window, looking at this new, foreign land that Billy and I found ourselves in. Hmph. I suppose a lot can change in twenty years; I gulped to myself at the chaos that was unfolding before me. People carrying heavy placards with cardinal slander scrawled on, ruffians were fighting and brawling on the streets, shrieking words of abuse. I turned my head, looking at Billy. I frowned at the sheer fear that was apparent in his eyes. I then glanced in front, checking what the detective was doing. His name was William Holmes, huh? Interesting.

What I did not know then was the partnership that this stranger and I would have and the pain that came with it, agonising pain. Due to the fact that I did not know, I simply carried on studying this man. Those curls… chiselled jawline… icy blue eyes… he looked like an angel, almost an angel anyway. He was lean and I presumed that there were muscles underneath that leather jacket, classically handsome, some would say.

What are you looking at? He asked gruffly, looking into the wing mirror.

I shrugged and turned my gaze back to the window. Billy smirked slightly, failing to hide his amusement.

I have a question, I suddenly came out with, still looking to the outside world.

He sighed and carried on driving, glancing briefly to the side. Out with it.

I sighed as I looked between him and the riots. Why are we illegal?

He cleared his throat. Where’ve you been for the past decade?

Erm—

Doesn’t matter, he interrupted me. Uniques are illegal. They’ve been illegal ever since the Big Disaster of ’89.

The what? Billy inquired, eyebrows furrowing, his amused grin disappearing despite the weird conversation.

The detective paused, trying to recall the events of the past. There was a group of Uniques, known as FemF8tal, sounds like a punk band but whatever, he paused as he turned a corner, swinging us around in the backseat. I believe they are rogue Uniques, they were trying to help; apparently, didn’t quite go to plan. A lot of people were killed that day. His voice trailed off and darkened at the flash of dead bodies in the windscreen.

I failed to hide the bewildered gasp under my breath but let him continue.

Some of them were caught, some of them escaped. Then the bill passed, Uniques became illegal. Most of them these days are in deep facilities, God knows where but there are a few still around, lurking in the shadows.

Billy and I eyed each other as the detective gazed sorrowfully out of the window, slowly swerving on the road.

Look, I sighed, fidgeting in the handcuffs, we need to leave. You need to let us go. We’re trying to stop the end of the world.

No, he said, you look. I am under strict orders to do this, to take you in. Now, shut it and sit back.

I sighed dramatically and slumped in the seat. Billy looked over to me, trying to grab my attention.

What are you doing? Stop pissing him off, he whispered his demand.

I rolled my eyes at him. Yeah, I know I am but think about it. I piss him off, he lets us go.

He glared at me. You know that won’t happen.

Can’t hurt to try. I winked at him.

Driving through New York was about as hellish as it sounded and it was true in what Holmes had said. There was so much propaganda abusing my people, the Uniques of the world which made me worry as to where my siblings, biological and adopted, were or if they were even free, able to walk around and continue to live their lives.

We drove past a building which said, ‘Yes to Cure: No to Uniques’. There was a cure? Why? What we had was not a disease, or at least that was what I believed. Perhaps this cure was not voluntary but they were trying to obliterate us… drive us to extinction. I swallowed my fear and my eyes darkened. Angelica was right, the world was not how we thought it would be. It certainly wasn’t safe. Immortal or not, I was in serious trouble, Billy even more so.

Closing my eyes, I tried to imagine that I was somewhere else, that I was somewhere far more pleasant, but in truth, I was struggling to dream of a place that could even exist. I don’t even remember a time where my life was continuously enjoyable and peaceful. Such things could only occur in dreams, I guessed. I pretended that I was on a cloud, watching the world below but I was on the world and frankly I didn’t quite know what to do. How was I supposed to stop the end of the world when I didn’t even know where to begin?

I had no idea where Jakola’s Evergyro was supposed to be, no clue where to start, just no clue whatsoever. My head was a conundrum of esoterica. I looked out of the window and watched the world fly by, time flashed before my eyes because in no time at all, we had arrived at the police precinct and Holmes shoved us out of the car. He grabbed our shoulders and marched us through.

*

Oi, Holmes! Who do you have there?

I turned my head to see an all too familiar face but I couldn’t quite place my finger on where I could recognise him from.

Roman, could you get back to work, Holmes gruffly gritted out as he pushed Billy and I into a lift.

Hey pal! I shouted at him when he pushed me slightly harder than I wanted. Do you mind?

Holmes glared at me and didn’t reply.

Billy sighed and put his handcuffed hands in front of him, simply taking the brunt of it.

We stood in the lift, our hands cuffed and our faces filled with anger and frustration. I could feel Holmes’ grip tighten on my shoulder and I had to resist headbutting him in the head at that moment, but I was holding onto a very thin thread.

You try anything, he warned.

And what? I inquired. What are you going to do? Hit me?

Billy elbowed me to be quiet. I sighed and shrugged Holmes off.

Look, I can’t go anywhere so could you ease off a mo? I asked, not in a manipulative way but just so that this knobhead could give me a little bit of a personal bubble.

Reluctantly, he let go of my shoulder and I breathed out, slightly dramatically but hey, my mind was all over the place, one of the annoying side effects of time travelling.

The elevator door opened and we were presented with a dark woman, head clean shaven and her face unreadable.

Holmes, she welcomed blankly. Heard that you caught a couple more.

Holmes shoved us forward, I restrained myself from lashing out.

Well, well, who do we have here? The woman, I guessed was the woman in charge, stood in front of us with her hands behind her back. Uniques huh? Well, you know what to do, Holmes.

Holmes nodded and shoved us to the side, pulling us aside into an interrogation room.

He sat us in two individual chairs on opposite sides of the room.

Give me a moment, he sternly said, eyeing us.

I looked over to Billy and saw that he was being uncharacteristically silent. I tried to grab his attention but he didn’t move. I glanced to the door and I could remember being in a similar situation of when Beatrice caught us and sent us into those simulations. I could sense that Billy thought that this was going to be a similar situation; me, on the other hand, didn’t quite think so.

It’s going to be okay, Billy! I shouted over to him.

Billy shook his head and muttered something under his breath but if I didn’t have enhanced hearing, I probably would not have been able to hear him.

No, we’re not. You don’t know if it’s going to be okay.

I smiled softly to him, trying to reassure that we were going to be okay, even if I didn’t know what was going to happen or if we were even going to be okay. I just didn’t know. It honestly felt like I was back to square one, not being able to know or remember anything.

It was kind of frustrating, I couldn’t quite put into words what I felt right at that moment.

The door opened again and Holmes walked back inside with a file and a pen. He sat in front of Billy first. I think that he was interrogating him but he was being so quiet that even I wasn’t quite understanding what was going on. I grew annoyed but didn’t blink once as I watched the silent interaction as Holmes talked to my brother, asking him questions. I don’t know what Billy said to him but I knew that it couldn’t have been good.

When he was finished, he stood up and made his way over to me, the file underneath his arms. He sat in a chair in front of me, pen in hand and ready to take notes. Notes on what I didn’t know. Again, I grew frustrated that I didn’t know what was going on.

So, you are Alice Evelynn. Right?

I nodded once.

And you were born 11 October 1956?

I nodded again.

You look good for a 44-year-old.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I’m not actually 44. I mean, I should be but I’m not. Technically, I’m 24. Time travelling, don’t even get me started."

He glared at me and glanced back down at his file. Says here that you knew an Angel Drake.

Er, yeah. I swallowed. Why? I don’t really see how Angel fits into this.

He ignored me but judging by his facial expression, I knew that Angel was someone he knew, I just had to figure out how.

My thoughts and questions were then brushed aside as Holmes asked me another question.

What are you doing here? What’s your purpose to be in New York? He stared at me. Especially during a time like this…

Well, I sighed, I’ve got to find a relic, stop the apocalypse and all that.

You’re lying.

I scoffed, I’m really not.

He blinked, his face not doing anything else but I could see his eyes darting over me, like he was studying me like a piece of art in a gallery. He was interested, so deeply interested and I was just… sort of revolted at this moment.

Well, Detective, I’m not lying. I don’t lie but I am severely confused at the moment. Amnesia, you get me? I shook my head. I understand that this is slightly too… much… for your human pea-brain to comprehend but… listen closely, you dick. I have been through some shit that you won’t even begin to understand. So how about you shut up and release me?

You know, over my career, a lot of people have talked to me like that. However, not one of them have been like you, he said, his face still as stone.

Thank you.

He sighed, rubbing the side of his head. I can’t just let you go. I’d be in some serious trouble but you’re Unique… He moved forward and whispered into my ear, so get yourself out. He sneakily winked to me and passed me a piece of paper into my hand. I didn’t open it but I clenched it in my fist. He stood up from the chair and smirked. To anyone else, that would probably be seen as slightly cocky but I knew that he was actually trying to help. I said nothing but bit my lip as I watched him leave.

Well, that was somewhat delightful to watch.

I grinned to myself, Dracoria was just watching the drama unfold but sometimes, in moments like that, I preferred it if she did keep silent.

So, what are you going to do?

I glanced around the room and saw a camera in the corner. I nodded and that was all that Dracoria needed to know to know what she had to do.

It’s going to be one hell of a light show.

Sure, I whispered almost silently.

At that moment, I could feel a dark presence and saw her shadow on the floor crawl across the tiles and up the wall, slithering up to the camera, turning it black.

Thanks.

You’re welcome.

I pulled my wrists apart from each other, snapping the metal in two parts. I grinned to myself and raced over to Billy’s side, undoing his handcuffs.

How did you—

She helped, I whispered to him.

Billy nodded, understanding who I was referring to. What do we do now?

I looked to the door. Well, there’s only one way out.

Shit, we’re going to get caught, he panicked.

I shook my head. We’ll be fine.

I unclenched my fist and took the note that Holmes had put inside. So, what did you give me? I muttered under my breath.

Silver City Apartments

Flat 666

That’s an address, Billy muttered.

Indeed. I nodded. Any idea where it is?

Nope, he shook his head. We should probably get out though before someone comes.

Yeah, I breathed out, shoving the note into my pocket. Let’s go.

*

Walking out of the interrogation room, Holmes sighed into his hands. He really hoped that he hadn’t made a mistake. He felt a hand on his back as he walked out.

Oh, hey Roman, Holmes stuttered out.

Roman looked up and saw that Holmes was slightly worried about something. You alright?

Holmes broke out of his trance and nodded, Yeah.

Roman raised an eyebrow, it was clear to him that his friend and colleague wasn’t actually alright but he had known for Holmes for a long time and knew that he was stubborn. Holmes wasn’t going to tell him what was wrong straight away, he would though, in time. He decided not to push the matter and patted the younger detective on the back.

Right, I’ve got a double homicide.

Sounds fun. Holmes chuckled. You the primary?

Roman nodded, Yeah, got Cerri for secondary.

Not me?

Roman shook his head apologetically. No, sorry, Holt’s orders.

Holmes nodded and glanced over his shoulder. Any idea where Darius is?

Nope, Roman clicked his jaw. I think he’s at the appointment with Ivy.

Ah. Holmes put his hands on his hips. Well, if I don’t have a new case, might crack open a cold one.

You can’t drink on the job.

Cold case, Roman, cold case. Holmes sighed with a smirk.

Doubt there’s any left, Roman remarked. Any time we find one, you see to crack it in under a week.

Holmes playfully grinned. Get me a challenge then.

Roman put his hands up. Right then! I’ll see you later, man.

Holmes waved him farewell and turned to head to his desk.

*

William Holmes was a simple set man. He was born on 6 January 1975 to Benjamin and Violet Holmes in New York and had lived there ever since. His father was an officer too and little William grew up hoping to fill his father’s shoes. It was a hard thing to do especially since his father always looked over his shoulder, checking everything that he did.

As a young boy, he could remember seeing the Noble Institute on the television, they had their own cartoon show that they would put on Saturday mornings. Little William would sit in front of the box and watch them fight, both in real life and in cartoon form.

The Brick

The Dagger

The Phoenix

The Reaper

The Grim

The Murderess

And…

…well her. Alice Evelynn was always the one that he would look up to. In the cartoon, Alice wore spandex made of black, green and purple leather. Her raven locks were put into two ponytails on the sides of her head. In reality, the Institute wore matching black spandex. The cartoon made them out to be so much more than what they were, except for Alice of course. She was just as powerful in reality as she was in fiction. Out of them all, Alice was always his favourite, they called her The Nightingale, as well as other names. William never really knew why she was known as that, he presumed it was because of her powerful, beautiful voice. One of the powers that she possessed, but didn’t use as much, was her ability to draw people in with her voice.

He wasn’t drawn in like that though, this was simply a little boy looking up to a powerful role model. After she disappeared though, the first time, the Institute declined but when The Grim died… the Noble Institute sort of crumbled to the ground like a pile of rubble.

It was strange though, because even after she left, William still looked up to her and saw her as the beacon to society. He didn’t know why he felt this way but he did and that was that. After the disaster though… the Big Disaster, the bill passed making Uniques illegal and dangerous to humanity. There were no Uniques after that and if anyone found any they were either killed, enslaved or imprisoned. A lot of people died that day, Alice wasn’t there so and maybe if she had it may not have happened. He didn’t blame her though, but after this day, talking to her—well, interrogating her—it just felt weird. She was not at all like he was expecting her to be. He thought that she would be one of those silent killer types, boy was he wrong. He could feel his eardrums grating after she wouldn’t shut up. He did feel slightly guilty about shooting her in the head, especially when he didn’t realise it was actually Alice Evelynn.

Something that lingered in his mind was that if she was human, he would have actually killed her. God, he was grateful that it was her but something wasn’t quite right. She should have looked older, she was 44 after all, then she kept rambling on about time travelling… this couldn’t actually be her though, right? It was her though, he saw the tattoo on her arm but anyone could have a tattoo.

Doubt was plaguing his mind.

*

Ah, Holmes, just looking for you actually.

William looked up to see his boss, Captain Samantha Holt, staring at him with her usual unreadable face.

Captain. What can I do for you? He asked her.

She handed her a parchment file. New case. Stolen property, high class victim. All yours.

Thanks, he muttered.

Oh, she said before she left, those Uniques, they still in interrogation?

He gulped, Yes. What do you want me to do with them?

I’ll sort that.

He nodded and turned his chair to his desk and opened the file. His eyes darted around the pages as he read. Hmm, rather intriguing.

*

Billy and I hid behind a wall, hearing footsteps coming in our direction. I swallowed hard and had to think for a moment. We had to get out of this precinct without anyone noticing us which was a difficult thing to do considering this place was filled with highly trained law enforcement.

What’s your plan? Billy whispered to me.

Erm. I looked around, glancing to see if there were any not obvious ways of getting out. I saw a fire escape on the other end of the hallway we were hiding in. I gestured to it with my head.

That leads to a roof.

I nodded. Yeah, but it’s our only way out. Come on.

I led first and walked down the hallway. We had to act causally in case we walked past anyone. If we looked even a bit suspicious, then our cover would be blown.

We reached the fire escape door, I opened it and we found ourselves on the roof. I grabbed a nearby mop before we exited the building. Billy shut the door once we had passed through it and I barricaded it, buying us some time.

That should hold it for a moment.

Billy nodded and sighed heavily. If they weren’t in a tight situation right now, he would have marvelled at the sight more; from where we were standing, 21st century New York actually looked impressive. The landscape was painted with skyscrapers and the sun was roasting with small snowflakes littering, scattering the buildings and trees below.

Billy turned to me, gulping, his hands shaking (but not as much as before). I really hope that you don’t plan to jump off this.

I don’t want to, I confessed. I walked to the edge of the building. I don’t think we can scale the building either.

Billy nodded, sitting down on a bench outside. Great.

I’m sorry.

Don’t be, he said, closing his eyes for a moment. It’s not your fault. We didn’t know that this was going to happen.

I smiled softly and paced the roof, trying to think of what to do. I had to do this quickly mind because someone could come after us any second now. It probably wouldn’t take them long to realise that we are no longer handcuffed to those metal, rusty chairs.

I pondered what to do for several minutes. All of this was rather troublesome, I could easily jump off the roof and survive but Billy couldn’t. His bones would shatter on impact, we were very high up, the people on the ground below looked like bobbing pins, moving up and down as they went about their day.

I continued to look back at the road and Billy. Defeated, I knelt on the ground and closed my eyes.

Struggling?

Yes, I muttered in a whisper. Do you have any idea what we should do?

Perhaps. You still have the Evergyro, right?

I nodded, taking in out of my pocket. I studied the metallic runes on it for a moment and swallowed hard.

I thought I didn’t need this.

You don’t, Dracoria replied. My relic will help you to control your time manipulative abilities, helps you to harness them until you master your gift.

Right. I sighed. What should I do with it?

I believe that you already know the answer to that.

I felt a soft gush of wind blow me forward, closer to the edge of the building, so much so that I was almost peering over the edge. A light bulb formed over my head, I think that I had a modest concept of a plan but I would need my brother’s trust.

Billy? I called over.

Billy looked up from his hands, blinking at me.

I think I have a way of getting down. I paused, catching my breath. I need you to trust me though.

I already do, he replied. Why? What’s your idea?

I looked down to the world below, climbing to my feet.

What? He scoffed. You want me to jump off the edge of this building? Are you insane?

We’ll go at the same time, I reassured.

Still. Billy sighed, clambering to his feet, his legs like jelly. Before he could say more, the fire escape door rattled and both of our heads snapped to the side.

Shit, I gasped.

Billy trembled like a leaf in the wind. Okay, okay, okay, he repeated to himself, trying to calm himself but ungracefully failing. Crap! What do we do?

Jump.

Billy shook his head, throwing his hands up into the air. What, and kill myself? No thanks.

Billy, if we don’t jump now, they’ll catch us and the world will end.

Billy sighed, moving forwards and backwards in a complete state of unsteady nerves. I took a hold of his hand and led him to the edge of the roof. His feet were peering off the side and his eyes were closed shut. I heard him swear under his breath, his panic increased as the sound of the rattling did.

I held the Evergyro in one hand and Billy’s hand in the other, I had to concentrate for a moment.

Okay, Billy, just step off.

I heard Billy groan squeamishly but we both stepped off the side of the building just as the door crashed open.

They’re out here! Someone yelled as Billy and I fell down the side of the building. Billy didn’t scream as such but I could hear his fearful breaths whereas I tried to remain calm and control the Evergyro’s power.

Now. I felt the power surge within me, the blue electricity flowing throughout, turning my eyes into a bright shade of blue, illuminant. I gasped sharply as we hit the ground with a crunch.

*

Samantha Holt stood at the edge of the building where the two Uniques had just jumped to their deaths with a look of disappointment of her face. It was a shame really, because in the end, Uniques were just people and people did not deserve a prison sentence just for living the life they were supposed to lead.

Despite this, the stern, composed woman did not feel any guilt for what had happened. She could not stop them from jumping as she had no insight as to whether or not it would have happened in the first place.

Ma’am? One of her officers called out to her, awaiting their orders.

Samantha turned to them. Get UDI down here to clear them away.

Yes Ma’am.

She waved them away and stood waiting, she watched them as they fell and watched them as they landed. Blood and brains on the sidewalk, it wasn’t a sight that she would ever get over even though she saw this almost every working day.

Captain?

Samantha turned her head to see Detective Roman Diaz standing behind her.

Diaz, she welcomed plainly. Something wrong?

He shook his head. No, Ma’am but… weren’t they the ones that Holmes had brought in?

I believe so, she confirmed.

Roman nodded. Shall I let him know?

Is he not at his desk? She asked, concerned.

No. He left a few minutes ago.

Leave him. It was after the end of his shift anyway.

Roman nodded and headed back into the building, leaving Samantha to contemplate for a few more moments.

*

My eyes snapped open at the blind, sharp pain in the back of my bleeding skull. I felt the pain die down as my cells reconnected themselves. I looked around and saw Billy. I crawled over to him as my leg bones tried to unshatter.

Billy? I groaned out, spluttering at the blood dribbling from my mouth.

As my vision returned to normal, I could see that Billy was bleeding heavily, his mangled bones in distorted positions and his face were pale but he was breathing. I could hear him and I could see his chest move up and down albeit irregularly.

I placed a hand on his arm and concentrated, trying to give him my healing capabilities. In a matter of time, his bones were placed back into their normal positions, his skin turned to its normal colour and his blood climbed back into him.

He gasped sharply and snapped upwards as he healed. God, he groaned. Teen?

I’m fine, I said as I pulled my arm, resetting it. Sorry about that?

What happened?

Erm— I was cut off by a crowd of people coming around. Shit, we’ve gotta go.

He nodded and shot to his feet, grabbing my arm as he bolted over the road and slithered into an alleyway. I could hear sirens come after us. We had to run, had to escape them and not get caught again.

Chapter 2

City of Angels, but not LA

Silver City Apartments—Flat 666

Billy and I ran for a while, managing to get away from the police. We hid in an alleyway for several minutes, catching our breath.

Let’s not do that again, Billy said, sighing heavily as he leant against a bin.

I nodded in agreement and sat on the ground, trying to fix my leg. I popped it back into place then it managed to heal itself afterwards.

So, you don’t happen to know where this apartment block is, by any chance? I asked, grimacing at the amount of blood on my clothes.

He shook his head. I don’t think you can just ask for directions either.

Why not?

Billy caught his breath and composed himself. I’m presuming that you don’t actually know how the detective knew that we were Unique.

I nodded, he was right about that.

It’s our eyes, Billy stated.

I raised an eyebrow to which he elaborated, Uniques have this thing with our eyes that they can change colour if you get me.

I don’t.

Okay, so you know how your eyes are green? A human would see them as something else when you use your powers.

I wasn’t using my powers though, I muttered. You know, when we landed.

That’s the thing though, he said. You were.

How?

We only landed for about 2 minutes right?

I nodded.

Well, you were probably still cooling down.

I lowered my gaze, processing what he meant by that. What colour would they see them as.

He shrugged. I don’t know. To me, they’re always green.

Okay.

I looked around the alley for a moment. Still though, we need to find out where this apartment is. Do you think that the detective wants to help?

Billy shrugged again. No idea. I’m not trusting him though. Uniques can’t trust humans, no matter how nice they seem.

I heeded Billy’s advice because one day his advice might just save my life, but of course I did not know that then.

*

Beatrice was not an idiot.

That was clear, almost everyone who bought Uniques knew that she wasn’t an idiot so when they found out that she had Alice Evelynn in her collection, they knew that she meant business. What they did not know was what Beatrice Browning used her Uniques for, in fairness she didn’t know either. She purchased Uniques for her master, and until he needed them, she would ‘care’ for them, see what they were truly capable of.

Alice Evelynn possessed the ability to heal herself but Beatrice was interested to know how much she could endure before she couldn’t heal anymore.

The first task was trial by fire. She put Evelynn in a room, locked her in and chained her ankle to the wall. Flames erupted in the room. Her skin peeled off, her hair singed until she was bald. Her skin was no longer white but was red and purple and black. Her lungs were deflated and her ribs were crushed under the pressure, her voice was hoarse from her agonising screaming. When Beatrice turned the fire off, Alice was laid in the middle of the room, in a foetal position but she healed, her hair even grew back to its original level.

The second task was the ice bath. Alice survived the sun but how would she do on the other end of the scale. Alice stood before the bath wearing nothing but a thin sheet over her frail body, as thin as a strand of hair. The bath was filled with shards of ice, almost like glass. Alice put one foot into the bath and hissed at the dramatic increase in temperature but she was obedient and conformed to Beatrice’s harsh demands. She stepped in and sat down then laid in the bath, freezing and shuddering violently. Her skin turned blue and after several hours Alice was just an icy statue, one touch and she would crack into a million pieces. When Alice was done, the bath was drained and the ice melted, leaving her in a defeated lump in the bath.

Trial by electricity was afterwards. They strapped Alice to a gurney and attached her to several wires. Beatrice watched from behind a wall and smirked as the most lethal amounts of electricity were pumped into her most prized possession. Alice seized on the bed, fitting vigorously, she had a leather bound in her mouth so that she didn’t shatter her teeth but Alice dug her nails into her hands and she still managed to draw blood despite having her nails trimmed so that it wouldn’t occur. She was bleeding from almost every crevice as she laid on the table. When the electricity was switched off, bile was over her mouth, mixing with the blood, tear stains on her face, breathing heavily, his throat scratchy and sore from her wails and screams.

*

Excuse me?

I knocked on a taxi window, alerting the driver.

What? He asked harshly before he saw me. Oh, sorry miss. How can I help you?

Sorry, but do you know where Silver City Apartments is?

He nodded, a smile blooming on his face. Ah, yes I do. You getting in?

I don’t have any money sorry.

He waved me off. No problem, hop on in.

Thank you. I gestured to the door to Billy who sighed and climbed in. I hid my tattoo with my sleeves, and hid the bloodstains from my clothes, I didn’t want to alert anyone to my whereabouts, I encouraged Billy to do the same.

What’s your name honey? The taxi driver asked, looking into the wind mirror.

Erm… Alice Blanc, I lied to him.

Blanc eh? He asked. That’s French for white, isn’t it?

Yeah, you know French?

He nodded, winking at me. Got to love French, the language of love.

I mouthed ‘is it?’ to Billy who shrugged in reply.

What about you sonny? The driver directed to Billy.

Billy Blanc. We’re siblings.

Ah, he replied. How come you two are going to the Silver City?

Visiting a friend in town, I answered.

Nice end of town is that, the driver explained. Not too much bother either.

That’s good, Billy muttered, looking out of the window.

I nodded to him, it was a good thing, that meant no unnecessary bother. That was what we needed right now, the less attention that we had on us the better, and if we had no attention that would be the best thing ever. We had a task to find Jakola’s Evergyro and hope that the other’s found Draco’s whilst we were gone. The taxi driver was not in the least inconspicuous, it was obvious that he was trying to look at me through his window.

Now, the word ‘inconspicuous’ is a fascinating word. If you are unsure of what it means, the definition of this word is… ‘not clearly visible or attracting attention’. This is what Billy and I were trying to be but in this instance the taxi driver, who I never learnt the name of, was not being it. He kept licking his lips as he looked at my reflection. It was rather off putting. Let’s give you an example of someone trying to be inconspicuous. If someone was on the run, much like my brother and myself, you would try to blend in with the surrounding crowds. The best way to hide is in plain sight as I learnt from a dear friend of mine, we shall get to him later on.

I noticed that I was not the only person who was put off by the driver, Billy kept fidgeting in his seat which was something he did when he was nervous or when he wanted to leave somewhere but considering that we were in a car that would be almost impossible to do so. I mean he could very well jump out of a driving car but not even Billy is stupid enough to do that.

Here you go, the taxi driver finally said as he pulled up beside the building. I thanked him and hoped that he didn’t linger. I could feel his disgusting eyes on me, on a place I would rather he didn’t look at. Thankfully, he left soon after when he noticed that I was going inside of the building.

Well, that was something, I commented on the situation.

Billy scowled at me.

What? I asked, worried about him.

Do you think that this is going to get any worse? He asked, not really expecting me to answer him. He was vile.

I know, I answered, gulping at the vulgar driver. I’m just glad that he’s gone.

Well, I’m certainly not getting in a cab again.

I doubt that you’d have him again, there are hundreds of taxis in New York, I told him, walking to the main door of the building. The building itself was rather grand and the shade of pearly white which did not really surprise me in the least considering what the building was named. Silver City. I’m sure that some of you can guess what the building is referring to, unfortunately I haven’t the time to explain so I shall just leave you to your imaginations.

I approached the golden gated door and rang the bell. There was a sound of a harp playing as I pressed the button, I giggled at the heavenly sound.

Hello? A sweet voice rang through the intercom. "Welcome to Silver City Apartments. Visiting or coming in?"

"Well, I’m not sure. I just got a letter saying to come here."

"Visiting then," the gentle voice said."Flat number?"

666, please.

Come inside.

The doors opened and I felt myself drawn in. I entered the pearly building, Billy trailing behind me. We were greeted by a short, slim, blonde girl, possibly in her 20s.

Ah, visitors, she greeted us with her pink lips and painted hands. Now, Flat 666 is this way, please follow.

We nodded and followed her pitter patting feet. She toddled down the hallway and into the silver elevator. I glanced around the place, the whole building was white and silver, and filled with the sound of harps. We stepped inside the elevator, our backs to the wall. I could hear the sound of the girl humming, what tune I could not say, probably something from this new era that I was still getting used to. We haven’t even been here a quarter of a day and we haven’t stopped.

Now, Miss Evelynn and Mr Arden, I apologise for the mess.

Mess— I paused and swallowed. Wait, how do you know our names?

We know all here. She giggled.

I nodded nervously. Right…

Billy raised his eyebrows to me.

Another thing to add is that I have always found human interaction quite interesting. Like winking for example, a playful wink can mean many things so when Billy raised his eyebrows at me, it wasn’t because he thought that this girl was impressive. It was actually because he was fearful of her and what she would do if she would even do anything.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened revealing a pale pink corridor on level 6.

This way,