ColorBlind (Book #2 of S.H.A.D.E.) ✔

Positions of Power

9.

I get to my feet, staring down at Jade. "Okay, then we need to find a way out of here. Do any of them come down here at any time? And what Shade are they?"

"Shade?" Her green eyes glitter in the darkness. "No, no. These are not Shades."

"...What? Then who are they? Why is Gray with them?" 

At his name, Jade's lip curls up into a snarl and she looks away from me to hide her anger. "He's a traitor. He only wants to be powerful. He wants to be recognized. That's why he works with Demons."

A tingle of nerves shoots down my spine. We are being held prisoner by the Necro Proxy. Gray is the Necro Proxy agent that Silver accused me of being. And Danny... must be a Demon. He must have been spying on me.

I close my eyes, gaining back my nerve for a second, and then direct them at Jade. "Jade, we have to get out of here. How about we try that window? You can stand on my back and see if it opens?"

She looks over to the window, skeptical. I wonder how many times she attempted to lift her weak body up, how many times she dreamed of crawling through to freedom. "We can try."

I help her move over to the window, then I get down on hands and knees. "Don't be afraid of hurting me."

She steps up onto my back, bracing herself against the wall for balance. She is weightless, so light that she might as well not have been there. A pang of pity grips my stomach for her.

I hear Jade move the blind away, and sunlight fills the room. I hear her gasp, and her weight shifts. "I-it's bright," she breathes. "I just need a second."

"I'm sitting pretty, don't worry," I say.

She shifts again, and this time I feel her start to tremble. "There's bars on the window."

My stomach sinks. That was the only other way out of here besides the padlocked door...

Jade eases herself down, and I straighten, stretching my shoulders to hide my worry from her. "No problem, we just need a plan B then."

She looks at me like I'm some kind of superhero, like I'm filling her with hope. My stomach lurches, because I can't help feeling that I am going to let her down.

I avert my eyes and walk around like I'm pondering the next route of escape, but really, I'm trying to handle the panic attack that is coming on.

Ugh, Calm down, Ebony  I imagine Copper would say right now. What are your options?

I stop my pacing, focusing on that question. What are my options? I turn back to Jade.

"They must feed you, right?"

She nods at me from where she's slunk back to the ground. "But only once a day."

"About what time? Do you know?"

"When the sunlight stops shining in. Late, I suppose. They leave a tray at the top of the stairs."

"Men?"

She nods.

I blow out a breath, knowing what I have to do. "Jade, do you think you're strong enough to break the window?"

"But there's bars." She cocks her head at me, confused. "We can't get out."

"We only need the glass," I say. "When they go to leave the tray, I'll be waiting for them."

Her eyes light up with optimism. I hope I can pull through for her. I hope I can reunite her with Copper, even if the thought of it makes my chest hurt.

"B-but I don't think I'm strong enough to break the glass." Her gaze drops.

I think this over. Obviously, if I stood on this girl's back like she did mine, I would break her in half like peanut brittle. However, how else can I reach the window?

I'm frustrated.

I suppose I could try to fight without a weapon, but fighting a Demon at regular strength would be a terrible idea.

"I'm sorry," Jade whimpers, gaze resting downward.

I put on a smile, something I've been beginning to perfect ever since I first woke up on that gurney. "We'll be okay," I assure her firmly.

She's crying again, looking utterly lost. I try to resist giving in to my own sense of helplessness, try to think like Copper.

I wish he were here with me, and I wish we could tackle this problem together.

But he's not, and I have to deal with this on my own, so I need to stop moping and start thinking for myself. Up until now, I haven't had to, but that changes now.

I sit on the ground and scour my mind for any ounce of a decent plan. All I can think of is breaking that damn window, but I don't see how. No matter how many times I try to dismiss the idea, it returns doggedly into my mind.

I grit my teeth, angry at myself. My hands ball into fists. I listen to Jade's quiet sobs, I feel my own heart begin to jackhammer with trepidation and anxiety. And then I think of breaking that stupid, God forsaken window again.

Ugh, enough!!!  I berate myself.

And the window shudders at the thought.

Jade is startled out of her crying and looks up in disbelief.  "Was... did you... ?"

I stare wide-eyed at the window. I am afraid to blink. I feel a heat behind my eyes, a pain in my temples.

Break.

The glass bursts into pieces, shattering into the room. Jade and I cry out and sheild our faces from the shards that rain down, sparkling in the sunlight.