After Darkness II Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Blank Page

  Also by J.F.Johns

  Quote

  Map

  Timeline

  The Capitals

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Epilogue

  After Darkness III

  Review

  Eternal Darkness trilogy

  Sneak Peek

  Prologue

  AFTER

  DARKNESS

  II

  J.F.Johns

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © J.F.Johns 2020

  All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without permission in writing from the author.

  To my aunt.

  One of the bravest women I've ever met.

  Also by J.F.Johns:

  Eternal Darkness

  Eternal Darkness Oblivion

  Eternal Darkness Revelations

  Cyborg Tales

  After Darkness I

  'Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.'

  Japanese Proverb

  TIMELINE

  2025- The cyborg experiments start.

  2030- New Era; the cyborgs are introduced to society.

  2040- X-Prototype experiments start.

  2045; Government scandal creates riots and protests on the streets. The X-Prototypes escape the facility where they're being held.

  2050; The New Government officially takes control.

  2060- Dark Era; the cyborg battle against the New Government is lost, and all cyborgs are banished to No Man's Land.

  2140- The cyborg community is reintroduced into the Nation.

  2160- Present.

  THE CAPITALS

  Capital One

  The epicentre of the capitals. It is where the New Government resides and most of the wealthiest humans. It is known for its outstanding futuristic designs, modern transportation and tight security.

  Capital Two

  This capital is located next to Capital One. It is the territory that produces everything for the capitals except food. Its sky is red from chemical pollution and the land is dry. The majority of the buildings are factories, but there are a few towns where workers reside close to the mines or factories.

  Capital Three

  Known as the agricultural capital. The centre of this capital is mainly composed of forests where the production of wood is high. On the outskirts, the land is used for agricultural purposes, and most of the food for the capitals is produced here. The land is green and fertile.

  Capital Four

  This capital is known for its commerce and temples. Nothing can be produced from the land as it has been over developed. The environment is densely populated and there is a lack of open spaces. It is the second richest capital after Capital One. It is famous for its silks, perfumes and the production of weaponry.

  Capital Five

  Also known as The Flatlands because of its terrain. It is one of the largest capitals, and one of the least populated. Many fields and pastures can be found in this territory, and it is mainly used for farming. It is the main manufacturer of meat and milk.

  Capital Six

  This capital is famous for its mountain ranges and the few towns that exist are built around them. Some of the smaller hamlets almost seem to be suspended from natural ledges in the sides of the mountains. The inhabitants are strong and tough. This is the poorest capital of the seven. The mines at the base of the mountains are famous for their gems and beautiful stones. Unfortunately, the New Government has power over these mines, and the profits are invested into Capital One.

  Capital Seven

  The jungle in this capital is used for the training of Watchers. It has extreme and harsh weather conditions. There are only a few small towns by the edge of the capital at the very border of No Mans Land, territory that no longer belongs to any capital.

  PROLOGUE

  There was a door.

  A splintered door with pink lilies painted on it.

  Behind the door lay a crystalline lake surrounded by trees, their branches and leaves rustling from a non-existent breeze. By the shore, on his knees, sat a boy with hair made from the night and eyes created from steel. His muscular shoulders shook as he cried. His robotic arms trembled from the fury he felt.

  Terra Underwood's dream always began the same.

  A cry for help.

  Her body in the icy cold water.

  Drowning.

  A crow.

  The sand on the shore got caught between her toes. She didn't care. Such things were irrelevant in nightmares. Her attention was on the boy that was now lying on the ground, screaming in agony.

  Terra dove into the water, her arms outstretched, her legs pumping as hard as possible to reach the other side of the lake. As she broke the surface to breathe, her eyes focused on the starless sky.

  Goosebumps appeared on her skin and the hairs on her arms rose. It wasn't from the water. Something was moving beneath, slowly rising, creeping up towards her.

  Terra twisted, searching for whatever was coming. It came closer and closer, she could feel it. She wanted to swim away, but her body turned to stone as her limbs stiffened, keeping her in place.

  Bodies began to reach the surface, dozens and then hundreds, surrounding her. Crows. All dead. They floated around Terra as she screamed, wanting to swat them away but unable to do so as her body remained locked in rigidness. Her eyes bulged in fear as more and more began to appear, the water soon vanishing. The lake became a blanket of crows connected to each other.

  Their weight began to pull her down. Their black feathers came loose from their small bodies, sticking to her face and hair. She wanted to rip them away, even if that meant tearing her own skin off in the process.

  Slowly, very slowly, Terra's body sank, water pouring into her mouth and filling her lungs. She tried fighting the current that was suctioning her down, but her body wouldn't respond. Crow upon crow lay suspended within the water, dead, their eyes open.

  Terra's lungs screamed to breathe. The water continued to pour into her, filling her up as she fell deeper and deeper,
until she too became a forgotten dead body at the bottom of the lake.

  Chapter one

  The room Terra was being kept in was bare of any decoration. The walls, floors and ceilings as white as snow, the lights so bright they burnt her when she was strong enough to open her eyes. There were no windows nor bed.

  Only a metallic chair.

  Terra had been tied to it.

  She hadn't been allowed to move from the chair since she'd been locked up. She didn't know how long ago that had been. She'd been fed, the food shoved down her throat with such force her mouth and jaw ached.

  The door to the room creaked open, causing Terra's heart to beat faster and louder. Prying her eyes open, she cursed at the sight in front of her. Her arms and legs tightened, struggling against the metallic straps keeping her in place.

  'Well, hello,' said a voice.

  It was the voice of evil, of torture and pain.

  It belonged to Petra.

  X-Prototype Six.

  Days ago Petra had chased Terra across Capital One after murdering her aunt Diane and best friend Sasha. Upon arriving at Kalem's home, she had thought she was finally safe. How stupid and naive she'd been! Petra had materialised right behind her, the feathers of her wings brushing Terra's skin, wrapping themselves around her, tightening.

  'No need to make such a fuss,' Petra spat, noticing Terra's failed attempts at escaping the confines of the chair. Her dark blue eyes shone with malice as her lips tucked upwards in a snarl. She stood by the door, dressed in the custom government uniform; a white suit with an eagle's eye printed over the chest.

  Petra was beautiful; tall and elegant, a face carved from marble to resemble a deity, skin made from porcelain itself, long blonde hair, straight on one side and shaved on the other. Every single feature, from her perfect long nose, to her high cheekbones and white teeth had been created to draw attention. People would fall on their knees in her presence. But there was something ugly attached to it. It was either the way her lips would curl maliciously or the way her eyes slit like razors.

  'Don't,' Terra said when Petra moved closer, leaning forward, her face inches away.

  The bright lights in the room dimmed. Petra sneered, grabbing Terra's face and squeezing. It hurt as the sharp long nails dug deeper into her skin, but Terra kept her mouth tightly shut. She wouldn't give Petra the satisfaction of seeing her suffer more than she already was.

  'I love our time together,' Petra said, pressing her nails deeper into the skin. 'I do hope Scarlet comes soon, or there might not be much left of you to rescue.'

  The door opened and Terra couldn't help but stiffen at the sight of Petra's twin brother as he slid through the crack in the door. Viktor was as tall as his sister but his features were always relaxed, bored even. He never spoke. Only tortured.

  'Just in time.' Petra let go of Terra, turning to greet her brother. She reached for him, kissing his cheek with tenderness and love. It was hard to believe she was capable of such a thing. 'Shall we begin?'

  Terra recoiled at such words. Every single day Petra would come along with her brother to torture her. Viktor had mind controlling powers and every time he came to the room, he'd use those powers to make Terra sleep and dream. Each dream became worse and worse. Scarier, bloodier and longer.

  'Please, don't,' Terra pleaded. Viktor stared at something behind her. He never seemed to focus on anyone or anything. Petra, however, couldn't keep those icy blue eyes off of Terra.

  'The longer Scarlet takes to come, the longer you'll suffer.'

  'Scarlet won't come,' Terra said.

  'Well then, what a shame.' Petra shifted her attention towards her brother, that twisted smile of hers growing more malevolent. The moment Viktor's eyes turned white, Terra screamed, shaking. She needed to get away. She wouldn't survive this for much longer.

  Terra's vision clouded as the room began to darken. She screamed in fear, crying out for someone to save her, even though she knew no one could.

  The room disappeared and Terra slumped against the chair, her eyes closed.

  ...

  Eric Thorn made his way across a rooftop, hidden from view. He usually wore dark suits, but he had changed into more comfortable gear to run through the city.

  Crouching, he leaned forward by the edge of the building and glanced down. Watchers were patrolling the streets, strolling along with their shiny helmets, white uniforms and guns. They had been created to protect, and yet, they did the opposite. Eric leaned forward, wanting to smash their helmets against the brick wall. But he couldn't. He had more important things to worry about.

  Scarlet.

  Three days ago Scarlet had allowed the monster to take over. Now she roamed the capital, causing chaos and spreading fear among the citizens. There had been an increase of Watcher patrols because of it. No one knew what the darkness that floated across the sky was, or the girl with black veins and hair as white as snow that sometimes materialised out of thin air. Some called her a ghost, others a demon. Only a few really knew what she was.

  Eric cursed. He needed to get her back. Not only because he missed her with every single fibre of his body, but because she didn't deserve such an outcome. He couldn't live with himself knowing what she had done to protect them. He would find her, and he'd bring her back.

  He just hoped she was still there within the confines of the monster.

  Eric waited for the Watchers to leave the alley, and then he leapt across the gap between the two buildings, falling into a roll. He had heard that Scarlet had been spotted by Square Park, flying across the trees and disturbing anyone who came anywhere near her.

  It was well past curfew, so getting there was going to be a bit of a hassle. The sirens had gone off hours ago, alerting the population to return to the safety of their homes or face the consequences.

  Sitting down by the edge of the building, Eric brushed through his short blonde hair and pulled a cigarette out. Blue flashing lights shone a few buildings ahead, alerting him of the presence of Watchers. He'd have to wait a bit before getting closer or surely someone might spot him.

  Eric glanced up at the starless night sky as the trail of smoke from his cigarette floated up, up, up. He pulled out the small little box he'd kept in his pocket and stared at the simple ring inside of it. Curtis had made it for him to give to Scarlet, and yet now it lay in his jacket, lost and forgotten.

  The Watchers weren't moving and in frustration Eric grunted, tilting his head back to stare at the moon hidden behind the polluted sky. Closing his eyes, he imagined himself in a small cottage in a field close to a forest. A piano had been placed in the living room and each morning he'd play.

  Eric chuckled at the thought.

  It was a beautiful dream, but a dream nonetheless. Without Scarlet none of it made much sense. The cottage would be his present for the both of them as soon as they got married.

  If they got married.

  A sudden breeze ruffled Eric's blonde hair and he scanned the darkness of the city below. Scarlet was close. He could feel her.

  Squinting, he searched for her desperately.

  There!

  A black mist circled a building. The darkness slowly began to twist and turn into a shape, and then a girl materialised; skin and hair as white as the moon, eyes and veins as black as the night itself. Her focus was on the Watchers below and Eric tried getting closer without being detected.

  He should've known better.

  Her head snapped up, those black eyes slitting like sharp razors. She watched him carefully, tilting her head to one side. Eric didn't dare move. He waited patiently. As soon as she lost interest in him and moved along, he'd follow.

  Scarlet, however, had different intentions.

  One moment she was buildings away, the next she was standing inches away.

  'Beauty?' he whispered.

  The girl sniffed him. 'Cyborg,' she said, her voice no longer completely human. 'The girl you seek is no longer here. G
ive up this foolish quest.'

  'I won't.'

  'This body is immortal and yours is not. You shall perish, but we shall live forever. Find another like you. Forget the girl that once inhabited this body.'

  'Shut up! Don't speak as if she's gone. Scarlet, wake up, goddamn you! You are stronger than this. We are stronger than this.' He reached forward to touch her cheek, but her hand gripped his wrist and then her other hand was around his throat, tightening.

  Turning on her heels, she dragged him towards the edge of the building.

  'Scarlet!' Eric thrashed against her, but she was too strong. 'Stop it! Don't do this, love. You can beat the monster. I know you can.'

  Scarlet continued, her eyes glued on something Eric couldn't see. They reached the edge and Eric's legs no longer touched the floor. Even though he was a cyborg and could survive many things, the drop was far too high for his body to survive.

  Her black eyes shifted back towards him. There was nothing in them, just darkness.

  'Scarlet, please,' Eric choked out.

  She let go and turned away, never looking back as he screamed.

  Chapter two

  Kalem Akuma had spent the last few days watching the Government's Headquarters. He wasn't entirely sure whether Terra was being kept there, but he had no other leads.