ColorBlind (Book #2 of S.H.A.D.E.) ✔

Transcendent

5.

Scarlet is a little too happy when she sees Copper and I leave the room together. She raises her brows in question and smiles from ear to ear. "Good nap?"

"Nothing happened," Copper mutters as he walks by her, pulling on a shirt.

As he goes by, she waggles her brows at me, and I roll my eyes in response, but can't hide my smile.

Nothing happened, and I'm not sure if anything will happen, but I feel happy with this new development, and that's all that matters for now.

We go back into the living room. Onyx has packed a bag for himself, expecting to have to leave any minute.

Anything he has to call his own fits into a small black bag. I sympathize with him, realizing that this is the first other Black I have met so far. Onyx was also expected to throw down his life at S.H.A.D.E.'s command.

But looking at him, you would never have guessed that this has been his life. That only an hour or so before, he was being beaten and was almost murdered. He is smiling and talking conversationally with Iris and Indigo. I wonder at this. I want to be able to bounce back the way that he has.

He catches me looking at him and smiles. "Hey, if it isn't my fellow Black."

I snort, returning the smile. "I'm so done with all of that."

"Same," he agrees. "Indigo here has a plan. We can use the computer. He's got it set up and everything." He points over to the desktop. I see that it has been taken a part, a scattering of wires everywhere.

"And it still works?"

"Yes," says Indigo, nodding decisively. "It will work. I can use the voltage from the start up."

I feel nervous about this. I'm not looking forward to being electrocuted. "This is going to hurt, isn't it?"

Indigo looks sorry. "Well, yes, probably. You may lose control of your bowels as well, and I'll need to place something in your mouth for you to bite down on."

Everyone trades a wary look.

This is a horror show.

"We have to do this," Copper finally says. "We need to break their control."

There is a silent agreement that falls over us. I look to Indigo, "Well, I guess I'll go first. In case something goes wrong."

"What?" Copper frowns. "Why?"

I give him a look. "Copper, we've already established that I am the weakest link."

He goes to argue some more, but I walk over to the computer, gesturing Indigo to follow me. "What should I bite down on?"

"Something that isn't metal," he says slowly, looking around.

"I think I got just the thing," Onyx says, getting up and heading towards the kitchen.

"Ebony, let me," Copper says quietly, coming up to me. "You went the last time."

I shake my head. "We need your brain. I'm the brawn, remember? A physical exemplar," I muse, taking on the same mocking tone he once used with me.

He huffs, not impressed, going to speak again.

I raise a hand, stopping him. "You're not going first. It has to be me. No worries," I say, managing to hide my nerves behind flippancy. It's true that it has to be me. I am the least experienced and trained here. They will need everything they have when going against S.H.A.D.E.

Onyx returns with a rubber end of a mixing spoon. "See? You won't be able to bite your tongue off through this!"

Copper shifts, but before he can begin to protest again, I take the end from Onyx. "Good idea. Thank you."

Iris brings over a throw blanket from the couch, spreading it out on the floor for me to lay down on. I give her a thankful nod, trying to ignore my nerves.

I lay down, everyone hovering around. I give Copper a reassuring smile that I know comes off as phony as it feels.

He doesn't buy it, of course.

"Okay," Indigo says, "bite down on this, Ebony." He places the rubber piece in my mouth, between my teeth. I clench my fists, trying to hide the fact that I am shaking. Indigo places the wire ends at either side of my head, the coolness of the metal tickling my skin. "Copper, can you hit the power button on the computer so it starts up?"

Copper hesitates, looking down at me, but does what he is asked, moving to the computer.

"It'll only take a few seconds. Brace yourself," Indigo instructs me calmly.

I do just that, tensed up so bad that my back feels like it will burst. I hear the hum of the computer as it comes to life.

And that's about it.

The next thing I know is a jolting force surging into my senses, spreading over my body so that my limbs jut out straight. My vision shakes and my mouth waters. I do lose control of my bladder, and I feel myself soil the sweatpants I am wearing.

My mind does something. It transcends my body, It reaches out to everyone, and I know what they are all thinking, what they are all feeling. They are scared and horrified. They think I'm selfless and courageous for going first. They think I am tough and that I am better than them.

If only they knew how untrue all that was...

Copper is the most afraid of them all. I feel his terror heavier than everyone else's, and his thoughts are a chaotic mix of guilt and reason. He knows that I had to go first, but he doesn't like it. Jade flashes through his mind.

And because I am neither selfless nor better than any of them, seeing him thinking of her makes me a little angry.

When it is over, I can't do anything for a moment, not even breathe.

Copper is over me, holding my damp face in his hands, pushing strands of hair back out of my eyes. "Indigo, I'll fucking kill you!" I hear him seethe.

"It worked, it worked!" Indigo assures him. "She'll be okay!"

I try to say something to ease the panic in the room, because I think I am okay, but it only comes out in a groan. There's drool all over my mouth.

And I pissed myself. I hate my life.

After a few minutes of everyone just looking down at me and whispering worriedly like I am not there or something, I can move again. My muscles burn, my spine pops as I sit up. My jaw is sore from digging my teeth into the rubber.

I wipe at my mouth and feel really disgusting, wishing Copper were not here to see me like this.

"Sorry about your pants... and blanket," I finally say to Onyx, feeling beyond mortified.

"Ebony," Onyx laughs, "You're one brave woman."