Quests of Shadowind: Sky Shifter

PART ONE

TOPSIDE

1.01

And then the lights went out…

...

Now what are we gonna do? Mindy exclaimed.

Logan’s eyes fluttered until a blurry image of his sister formed. She shook him out of sweet sleep into a conscious headache. Logan saw soft, yellow sunlight filtering through an open window and thin curtains billowing in a breath of wind. He moaned and rolled over.

"Lo, wake up!" Mindy commanded, giving him an extra-forceful shove.

Logan’s head snapped across his pillow. Min, quit it! he pleaded. Whiplash painfully rattled a broken dream. He held the back of his skull, hoping to prevent a broken neck as well. Leave me alone.

The nerve, he thought, waking me up so early. After all it was summer vacation—a time for all fifteen-year-olds to sleep in. Especially since he had stayed up late the night before. The entire neighborhood had gathered for a cookout, and he had devoured everything in sight: snacks, hot dogs, hamburgers, several pieces of cake, and just as many cans of soda to wash it all down. But no fruit. That was where he had drawn the line. Oh, yes, and that nasty-looking seven-layer salad. One bite of that and he knew he would lose all the other food groups to which he had devoted so much time and energy.

Despite all the laughter among family and friends, however, there had been something strange about the feast. What was it? Tiny puzzle pieces slowly locked together to form an overall picture. Now he remembered. A subtle yet eerie darkness had fallen on the festivities like some kind of veil, and—

Lo, I mean it! Mom and Dad are gone!

Mindy’s persistent nudging prompted Logan to realize with throbbing clarity that she hadn’t quit it like he had asked. This is a serious breach of etiquette, he surmised sleepily. And since she had ratted to Mom about that extra piece of cake…and the water balloon, she wouldn’t be getting any special favors soon. After all what was exploding water or extra cake in the grand scheme of things?

He groaned and rolled over again to face his younger sister. Cracking open one eye, he rubbed away some sand with a weak fist. Where had that come from, anyway? He didn’t believe in the sandman, and they didn’t live on a beach or in a desert.

They probably went to work, Logan croaked after clearing his throat. You know sometimes they work extra hours and— He stopped when he heard the sound of running water. No, not water from a faucet, but…waves.

Logan sat bolt upright in his bed, instantly awake. He looked out the window. They did live on a beach. How in the world did that happen?

Lo, this isn’t our house. And where are Mom and Dad?

He looked around the room. Atop a dresser, a soccer ball rested on a stand amid a pile of discarded clothes. A stack of unread paperbacks stood in a precarious tower alongside a figurine of Michael Jordan. A computer monitor stood dark and silent on a small table in front of a rolling chair, and a lamp on an end table watched over the twin-sized bed and its bewildered occupant. Messy, blond hair and caramel eyes stared back at Logan from the mirror above the dresser. Of all the interesting articles here, only the face belonged to him.

This isn’t my room, he said.

You always were brilliant first thing in the morning, Mindy replied. "At least that hasn’t changed."

Where are Mom and Dad?

I don’t know! I already asked you!

Logan tossed the bed sheets aside and slid his bare feet onto the cool, hardwood floor. He wore flannel pajamas printed with little pink elephants.

Mindy snickered. Nice PJs.

Logan looked at them and puckered his face in disgust. Whose are these? They’re seriously not mine.

Well look at this! These aren’t mine either.

Mindy arose from her crouch beside the bed to show her pajamas—bearing images of soldiers, explosions, and tanks. Logan thought they matched Mindy perfectly, considering her temper. Still, it was weird.

What’s going on here? his brain screamed. Am I dreaming all this? He couldn’t be. Even at this ungodly hour, his thinking was too clear, and he would never think of wearing pink elephants—even subconsciously. That was just plain sick. Maybe it was some kind of prank, like on TV. Well, I’m not falling for it. I’m gonna stay cool and get some answers.

Where’s the phone? he asked, rising and walking toward the hallway. I can’t believe Mom and Dad would just drop us off here after the party and leave for work without saying a word.

Maybe they were in a hurry.

"They’re always in a hurry."

Logan studied the scene beyond the bedroom window. Scowling, he rubbed the sister-induced headache from his temples. What are we doing on a beach? A twinkle in his eyes cut through the fog like a lighthouse beam. No matter what, he thought, life can’t be all that bad if you’re on a beach. We must have been driving for hours last night. Funny—I don’t remember any of it. I must have crashed hard.

Probably from all the cake. I’m surprised you’re not in a coma.

Logan’s face soured again. Yeah, and thanks for ratting on me too, sis. That was very sibling of you.

Well, you’re such a pig. It was embarrassing in front of all my friends.

I only had two pieces of cake, Logan lied, hoping to get away with it.

Three, you mean. Then she quickly added, "That I saw."

Logan took a deep breath. Recognizing defeat when it buried him like an avalanche, he tunneled out to a different subject. You remember anything else about last night?

Just you and the cake. What do you suppose happened? Are we on some sort of surprise vacation?

I don’t know. Logan craned his neck. Now…where’s the phone?

He entered the hallway, Mindy in tow. Paintings of seascapes lined the walls. Logan paused to admire one of a lighthouse bearing up against a storm. It brought to mind his relationship with his sister.

Taking a deep breath, he moved on and entered a great room. To the right lay the family area, with a sofa and a couple of recliners huddled around a modest-sized TV. To the left stood the kitchen and dining areas. A telephone, complete with a long, dangling umbilical cord, clung to the wall next to a white refrigerator. How quaint, Logan thought. Old or not the phone probably still worked. He marched toward it.

Now we’ll get some answers, he stated, punching in their dad’s work number. At least the phone had a keypad and not a rotary dial.

A three-tone signal pierced Logan’s eardrum, followed by a recording of a calm female voice. We’re sorry. The number you have called…does not exist. Please try again.

Logan pulled the phone away from his ear and crinkled his brow at it. Does not exist? What do you mean does not exist?

What’s wrong? Mindy asked.

Nothing. Must have dialed the wrong number. I’ll try Mom.

He jabbed at the numbers only to get the same irritating tone and recording. He slowly hung up the phone. What’s up with that?

What’s up with what? Mindy’s concern showed in her dark-brown eyes. Didn’t anybody answer?

Nope.

Logan wanted to tell his sister about the strange recording but decided against it. He didn’t want her to worry, and her present state already bordered on panic. He took another look at his new surroundings. Something’s not right, he thought. This setup is just too elaborate to be a hoax. Still, there has to be a simple explanation for all this…right?

Must be some kind of phone glitch, he said. Maybe a line’s down somewhere. Or who knows? Maybe they just have poor service out here on the beach. Have you looked outside for Mom and Dad?

Once I saw this wasn’t our house and Mom and Dad weren’t here, I ran straight to you, big brother.

Logan looked at her. Only a year and a half younger than he was, Mindy had beautiful, olive skin and thick, dark hair. However, if asked, Logan would never have admitted she was pretty—she was his sister, after all, and that relationship forbade him from saying much of anything nice.

Because I know, Mindy continued, you always have all the answers.

Sarcasm. Logan grumbled and guessed Mindy couldn’t say much of anything nice about him either. Brother and sister. Night and day. Dreamer and realist. Despite being polar opposites, they tended to see the same big picture, just from different angles. Sometimes those angles were sharp and pointy and they hurt, but almost always Logan and Mindy could forgive. Forgetting—now that was different. They often reminded each other of past blunders, especially during fights but also in playful jabs.

That’s because I’m older than you, Logan replied. And smarter.

Mindy huffed. Smart enough to know who’s older but not smart enough to know who’s smarter.

Logan ignored the comment and opened the refrigerator. It was well stocked with milk, juice, cheese, meat, vegetables, and even leftovers from the previous night’s party. And fruit. Logan quickly passed up a cluster of grapes, grabbed a fried chicken leg, and took a big bite.

I thought we were looking for Mom and Dad, Mindy said.

We are. Logan headed for the back door.

Not in those we’re not, Mindy said, pointing her nose at Logan’s outfit. I will not be seen with a brother wearing pink elephants.

Logan stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at his pajamas. Thanks, sis. I almost forgot! Here, hold this. He handed her the half-eaten chicken leg. "I don’t even like pajamas. This must be some sort of sick joke. Something you might pull."

"I had nothing to do with it…this time."

Mindy held the bone between her fingertips and at arm’s length as Logan ran down the hall. A few minutes later, he emerged from the bedroom wearing a T-shirt and jeans. He took the chicken back and resumed eating. Mindy went to the sink and washed her hands.

I’m gonna change too before we get started, she said, then went to her room and closed the door.

Logan tossed the drumstick bone into a plastic garbage can, rubbed his hands together, and wiped them on his shirt.

You know, Min, he said, raising his voice, I’m sure we’ll figure this all out. It might be nothing. Mom and Dad are probably walking on the beach. You know how romantic they get sometimes.

Mindy opened her bedroom door. She was wearing a flowered button-up top and light-blue Capri pants. So whose clothes are these anyway? I’m not so sure I like wearing someone else’s stuff.

Logan wasn’t thrilled about it either. But guys weren’t supposed to care about things like that, were they? He brushed aside his doubts and growing concerns. So what? They’re clean, right?

Well, yeah, but—

Then forget about it. Come on. Let’s find Mom and Dad.

Logan and Mindy strode toward the back door.

But don’t you think it’s weird? Mindy asked, refusing to let the subject drop. These clothes aren’t ours, but they’re a perfect fit. I mean, of all the different possible sizes—

A shiver crept up Logan’s spine. He stopped in front of the door. Look. Min. Clothes are the least of our problems right now, okay? I’m sure everything will be just fine. There’s got to be a simple explanation.

He opened the back door and stepped outside. A breeze from the water rushed through his hair as he looked left and right. Waves lapped at a sandy shore as far as the eye could see. Houses and trees stood watch over the beach a short distance away. The bright sun cast thousands of blinding sparkles across the sea, making Logan squint. He saw no sign of his parents, but he spotted a few of the neighborhood kids wandering along the shore while a couple of young children splashed in the shallow water. Seeing them brought back a ripple of normalcy.

Do you see Mom and Dad? Mindy asked, holding a hand above her eyes to shield them from the sun.

No. You?

No. Mindy sighed heavily, her heart sinking like an anchor. Even so, the waters of hope buoyed her spirit. Let’s check the front.

Logan nodded, and they walked together alongside the house until they reached the front yard. More homes and trees greeted them. It looked like any other suburban neighborhood except a wide path of crushed stones divided the houses instead of a paved road. No parents there, but Mindy and Logan recognized a young man who stood across the street. He scanned the area in confusion, his hands on his hips. Logan called out to him.

Preston! What are you doing here?

Their neighbor dropped his hands and walked forward, meeting Logan and Mindy on the path.

Hey, Logan, Mindy, he said with a slight nod. A shadow darkened his face. Same thing as you, I guess. Wondering where in the world we are. For the life of me I can’t figure it out. Eastern seacoast maybe. But how? Why?

Have you seen our parents? Mindy asked, relieved that she hadn’t stumbled over her words. She had a crush on Preston—most girls did—even though he was much older. He had been her next-door neighbor forever.

Preston continued to look around with his crystalline-blue eyes. "I haven’t seen any parents. At first I thought this was some sort of practical joke. My folks like to pull a fast one on me on my birthday every year. I figured since I turned twenty today they would pull something really big. But this, he said, throwing up his arms, this is so way over the top. He ran a hand through his dark, wavy hair. I just can’t figure this out."

Logan looked up at Preston, who had been captain of the high school varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. He’d also been prom king and valedictorian and the recipient of every other high honor imaginable. Logan admired him. He’d often seen Preston wearing his school jacket loaded with gold pins but hadn’t seen him much after he had gone to college. If anyone could solve this puzzle, Preston Norwood could. Logan felt relief wash over him like the sea gently massaging the beach.

You turned twenty today? Logan asked.

Yeah. I guess I’m not a kid anymore.

Bappy Birthday, Mindy muttered, starry-eyed. Realizing her mistake, she growled at herself and quickly spun away, totally embarrassed. Idiot! she thought. You were doing so well. You should have quit while you were ahead!

Thanks, Preston said, managing a brief smile. I think.

Logan was about to ask Preston if he had any more ideas about their whereabouts when he heard a mechanical noise. He turned to his left and gazed down the path that wound its way between the houses and thick trees.

Did you hear something? he asked.

Yeah, Preston replied, staring down the walkway. Sounded like metal on metal.

There it is again! Mindy exclaimed.

The metallic clang had indeed sounded again. In fact, it continued to sound over and over in some kind of sequence…and it was growing louder.

It must be coming right down the path, Preston said, pointing.

Logan’s heart began to beat wildly. He sensed danger, but why? What could possibly be frightening in this wonderfully surreal neighborhood of tidy beach homes, green grass, flowers, and trees?

Mindy, he said, maybe you should go in the house.

"Maybe you should."

The sounds continued to grow, and Logan’s heart continued to thump.

Min, I mean it. I think you’d better—

Suddenly the source of the commotion appeared from behind a cluster of trees. The three spectators’ hearts dropped into the pits of their stomachs, and they froze with fear. They stared in horror and disbelief as a giant, mechanical spider, nearly as tall as the trees, marched up the path, its eight stilted legs clanking. It had a smooth, oval body and a round head with five bright lights—some small, some big—that looked like eyes. In place of mandibles, a long, metal shaft protruded from the mechanical monster.

Run! Logan’s mind screamed. He wanted to, but he couldn’t even say the word. His mouth hung open and his brain shut down.

The alloy beast stopped for a moment and swiveled its head. All five of its eyes looked directly at Preston.

Finally he broke their horrified silence. "This is no way to be treated on my birthday."

Then the spider began striding forward. Clank-clankity-clank! Clank-clankity-clank! It came ever closer until Logan’s brain waves pulsed with renewed life.

Run! he shouted. Mindy! Back to the house! Back to the house!

He took her by the arm and whirled her around, pushing her in front of him. They stumbled over a flowerbed but recovered quickly, then raced like the wind toward the front door.

Clank-clankity-clank! Clank-clankity-clank!

It took forever to reach the porch. Mindy fumbled for the door handle.

Clank-clankity-CLANK! Suddenly the sound stopped.

Mindy threw the door open and jumped inside. Logan turned to see why everything had become so incredibly quiet. The giant spider had stopped in front of Preston’s home. For being such an athlete, Preston had made it only to his front lawn. Had fear gotten the best of him and slowed him down? Had he tripped? Logan didn’t know. He had been too busy trying to save Mindy to notice.

Logan shouted at him to spur him on. Preston, run! You can make it! You can make it! Just run!

However, Logan knew Preston couldn’t make it. It was too late. The menacing spider stood dreadfully close.

Logan, come on! Mindy shouted. Get in the house. Now! Then she yanked him inside. As she did they saw a beam of light shoot from the spider’s lone mandible and strike Preston’s chest. His body shook momentarily, and before anyone could blink he vanished.

Satisfied, the spider turned and strolled away. Clank-clankity-clank. Clank-clankity-clank. Logan watched it go. What had just happened? he wondered. Did it even REALLY happen?

Preston’s voice, muffled and fading, snapped Logan out of his trance. Get me out of here! he said from somewhere inside the spider’s belly. Get me out! This is no way to be treated on my birthday!

The clanking faded as the spider disappeared behind the trees. The air was filled with electric buzzing, then with eerie silence.

As Logan stood behind the minimal safety of the screen door, he realized Mindy had been right. Horror clutched at his heart and gnawed at his brain. This wasn’t their home. This wasn’t even their world.

1.02

Mindy rubbed her red, puffy eyes. She had cried for the past half hour and now wondered if all those tears had affected her vision. After Preston’s terrifying abduction, she simply couldn’t believe how her big brother had slopped through a bowl of cereal. Didn’t anything rattle him? Did he think life was just one big joke?

The sound of seagulls crying on the beach forced her attention from the pig at the table. Everything seemed calm and peaceful—everything but the obnoxious cereal crunching. How could something like a giant, mechanical spider roam freely in a place of such serenity and beauty? It didn’t make sense. Where had it come from? Would it be back? She shuddered at the thought, believing it would return, but when? They needed to come up with a plan of defense.

Logan slurped up the last of the milk and dropped the bowl and spoon onto the table with a clatter. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he looked through the open window toward the house next door. Drawing in a long breath, he finally opened his mouth to speak. Mindy waited, hoping her brother could shed some light on their situation.

That was good, he said. I think I’ll have another bowl.

He started to rise from his chair, but Mindy slapped the table with both hands. Startled, Logan locked eyes with his sister. What? What did I do?

Do? Mindy asked. "You haven’t done anything! And that’s the problem. All you’ve done all morning is rummage through the fridge and cupboards, eating everything you can lay your hands on. Doesn’t any of this matter to you? Don’t you care that Preston is gone?"

Logan could see the fire in Mindy’s dark eyes. He was old enough to know it meant trouble but young enough not to be overly concerned.

Of course I care, he replied. "Well, not as much as you. I don’t love the guy like you do. I only admire him…from a distance."

Mindy started to object, but Logan continued.

Besides, we’ve been through all this already. Do we really have to go through it all over again?

He arose and placed his bowl and spoon in the sink. He reached into the fridge for the tenth time, grabbed a carton of orange juice, and took a long pull.

Mindy shook her head. She felt like pulling out her hair. Sometimes her brother could make her so mad. Was he purposely trying to frustrate her, or did it just come naturally?

Yes! she shouted, hoping the volume would penetrate his thick skull. Yes, we really have to go through it all over again. Did we actually, like, solve anything? Mindy dropped her head into her hands and took a minute to calm herself. Can you please sit down so we can talk about this?

Logan scrunched his brow and looked at his chair. I was just sitting there! Why didn’t you—

The twin flames in Mindy’s eyes fanned out into an inferno.

Alright, Logan said. Alright. I’m sitting.

Mindy watched and waited until she had gained his full attention.

Number one, she stated, holding up a forefinger, "I don’t love Preston. I just…like him; that’s all."

Logan slouched in his chair and rolled his eyes.

Mindy continued. "And what would you know about it? Who have you ever loved besides yourself?"

I love Mom and Dad, Logan protested.

Fine! Then why don’t you do something about trying to find them?

I am.

Like what?

I’ve been thinking.

Mindy looked at him skeptically.

What? Logan said. I do my best thinking over a bowl of cereal.

"Well, you had two, so this ought to be really good." Mindy folded her arms on the table and leaned forward.

Logan hesitated and pushed his chair back a little, trying to put some distance between them for his own safety. In all honesty he had given their situation considerable thought but found no explanation for their predicament. Maybe if he talked it out with his sister, together they could devise a theory and a plan. However, he couldn’t let on that he had no cards to play. He would have to bluff. Or stall for time. Either one should have worked.

He cleared his throat and scooted his chair in…but only a little. There was no reason to be foolhardy.

Alright, let’s look at this. He paused, struggling to find the right words. Like an impartial judge. And that means no crying this time, okay? I hate it when you start crying. Besides, nothing gets done when you cry. Crying brings everything to a halt. Crying—

"Okay, okay! I’ll try not to cry. I’m sorry that some of us have feelings."

You sure? You look kind of unstable—

I’m not unstable! Mindy shouted, wiping a drop from her eye. You’re just boring me to tears, that’s all. And because you haven’t come up with any ideas. And you’re stalling. You have no idea what’s going on around here, do you?

Oh, and you do? Name one thing you know about all of this—just one!

Mindy looked at her brother in silence. His face had hardened into granite, ready for a fight. Whenever he got like that, he would put on his boxing gloves and throw his thinking cap out of the ring. They didn’t need that right now. They needed answers. She nodded and lowered her voice.

Alright. She placed her hands evenly on the table. I do know one thing: we need to work together. No more fighting. It’s getting us nowhere.

Logan looked away. Mindy had come to the same conclusion he had. They were a team—not opponents. United we stand, divided we fall. Isn’t that what people always