Bloodlines of Atmos, The Story of Jace, Sanctuary, Book 1

Prologue

It was the last week of August and the sun rose high into the sky to beam its last days of warmth over the lands before the cold grips of autumn took over. Trees turned from their summer greens to oranges and yellows. The shed of vegetation that littered the country road parted as Nolan drove his SUV away from the city on the yearly vacation to give his family a break from the cramped and bustling city life.

He looked to his side and at his beautiful wife, Audry, who sat in the passenger seat. He smiled as she ran the tips of her fingers in loops at the ends of her shoulder-length brown hair. She stared out the window, as if to watch the world go by.

She turned to look at him with her deep green eyes, apparently sensing his gaze on her. Audry gave her usual half-smile. What?

Her voice was always so sweet and soft, even when she cursed like a sailor.

Nothing, he replied, and he returned his gaze to the road. He joked in his thoughts about Audry having ESP, or some other power like The Evolved did. How else did she know he was looking at her so quickly?

Did you see that holo-ad about the Sector 50 beach resorts? Audry asked. Carol said something like a kid kicked the side of a fire hydrant last month and the fucking thing blew apart.

Language. And besides, I don’t think your sister can think for herself. She believes everything she reads.

It’s not those stupid fucking tabloids. This was on the news and everything.

Nolan smiled and shook his head. Didn’t that one company make something to detect people who had the disease?

From the corner of his eye, he saw Audry shrug. What was that company’s name again? ‘The Order’? Anyways, they have some sort of mist that makes them glow, but that is all sorts of stupid. I can just imagine a big time suit keeping a spray bottle and a black light on him. They even named it after some religion, or some stupid shit like that.

That hardly made any sense to him. Then he had a thought. Like a black light?

Yeah. You know, that thing that makes your bleached teeth glow in the dark?

He reached up to adjust the rear-view mirror. The reflection of his son, Jace, hunched over with his head resting and eyes closed on his new brown backpack. His sleeping gave him relief, as his son was known to take after his mother more than him.

Audry turned to look at the back and started to make some adjustments to Jace’s car seat. That kid wasn’t much older than Jace, but they’re apparently trying to charge him with some felony. She reached behind him and started to play with the booster seat that sat his daughter.

He made some more adjustments to his mirror to look at his little girl. Is Sarah okay?

Yeah, she’s fine. Audry unbuckled her belt to better reach into the back seat. She’s sleeping too. Stupid fucking seat can’t stay in one place.

Language, he warned again.

Yeah, yeah. She grunted, her butt sticking in the air. Finally, she finished whatever task she worked on and plopped hard back in her seat. She ran her fingers over her loose strands of hair to put them behind her ear. Even after ten years together, she was still so pretty.

You want to get a different seat? I saw a holo-ad about—

You know those things are to trick everyone? Buy buy buy. Those assholes are brainwashing everyone to give them their money.

If you’re not happy with what you have, we might as well get another.

See? Audry turned around to look in the back once more. I just hope our kids can see through their advertising propaganda.

Daddy, he heard Jace say sleepily from behind.

He looked in the rear-view mirror as Jace yawned and stretched, rubbing his brown eyes with the back of his hand.

Can we please hear music?

Sure, son. He tapped the glass on the dashboard to light up the controls. With a swipe of his finger, he turned the radio on. Static.

Stupid piece of crap, Audry mumbled. It’s not like the satellites can’t get to us on this side of the hill.

Over the hills and into... an announcer said before cutting to static.

Why do we pay for this crap when it doesn’t work? Audry fiddled with the glass screen.

Breaths of fire… Again, the radio turned to static. ... in extreme danger... are trying to stop... The radio went to continuous static.

Audry recoiled her hand, then looked out the window.

What do you think that was about? When Nolan heard no reply, he looked over to his wife, who leaned forward and stared out the windshield.

Look.

When he leaned in, he saw a plume of smoke from the distance. It looks new. He pushed down on the accelerator. The engine hummed loudly after a downshift.

Audry’s body went back into her seat. What are you doing?

I don’t know. Investigating?

Investigating? Investigating what?

People may need our help.

Audry leaned forward to look toward the smoke once more. You think people are in trouble?

I don’t know. If they do, we will be there to help.

You’re a car salesman. I’m a database designer. How can we do anything?

He shrugged. I don’t know. Even with their new hovertrucks, we will get there before the police.

Are we there yet? Jace asked from the back seat.

No, honey, Audry replied with her gaze still on the growing smoke cloud. Try to go back to sleep.

But I’m hungry... Mommy, I’m hungry!

Audry turned to look into the back. Remember what I said about respect and manners? Give everyone the utmost respect, no matter what.

The radio finally cleared up enough for the announcer to continue. A large demon is attacking the farm… Appeared out of nowhere… law enforcement is trying to contain the monster but…

He lifted his foot from the pedal, allowing the SUV to come coast down the road. A demon?

Audry gazed at him. Sounds like police are already there. Do you think… She looked back toward the smoke.

He pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, then leaned forward to take a better look at the smoke.

Audry sighed and sat back in her seat. I can’t believe this is the world we’re living in now. Everything is so unreal. Like living in a dream or something.

He relaxed in his seat thinking about how things had changed so quickly. He looked into the rear-view mirror at his son, wondering how a five-year-old would cope with the monsters and magic that had appeared two years back. Would his son have this strange… affliction? What about Sarah? She was born near the time these creatures appeared. Would The Order take him away? Where did they even come from? He shook his head, having no real idea on what to do next. It was all so uncertain.

Jace, honey. Do you want to go to the park instead?

He smiled, feeling thankful that his wife knew when to take control. Yeah, how about we have a nice day at the park. Then we can go to that carnival by the lake.

YAY! Jace clapped his hands excitedly and bounced back and forth. I and Sarah can… I and Sarah can ride the rollercoaster!

Nolan and Audry met each other's gaze and they smiled, then they both turned to face the back. Jace was wide-eyed, and his eyes went back and forth between him and his wife.

Audry reached out and grabbed Jace’s backpack. Are you going to push your sister’s wagon into the wall this time?

He smiled, remembering his little girl crying after such a small bump.

Jace forcefully shook his head. Nu-uh. I’ll make sure she’s safe. Will there be ducks? I want to feed the ducks again.

He sat back into his seat, smiling, and shaking his head. Just as he reached to shift the gear in the SUV, the sun was covered by a large and ominous shadow. Just as he looked to see what the shadow was, a massive red shape smacked the side of the car. Pain shot through his head and the world gave a flash of light. After the flash, darkness, then nothing.

When Jace woke up, he found himself lying on a soft surface, looking up at a white ceiling with rectangular lights. He was confused, and strangely groggy. The last thing he remembered was his mother reaching for him, then the strange ride. He closed his eyes, thinking about when he woke up after the ride in the dark and being stuck in the car seat. He cried out for his mom and dad, but they never answered. His arm and chest hurt when he woke up. Where were his parents? Why didn’t they help him and comfort him through the pain? And where was Sarah? She was always making noise in the middle of the night.

Panic formed in his chest.

When he tried to rub his eyes to get the sleep out, sharp pain ran down his arm. Reflexively, he tried to sit up, but an ache in his side stopped him. His body tensed, and he couldn’t take it anymore. Tears formed and fell down his cheeks.

Mommy!

Shortly after he started crying, a woman in a white coat rushed to the side of the bed.

Where’s my mom and dad? Where’s my sister?

Aww, poor thing, she said as she looked down at him. She reached over to a strange device with cables hanging loosely and fiddled with some knobs.

His eyes followed where the cabled ran, and gasped when he saw them in his arm. Who are you? Where’s my mom?

Now, now. The woman in the white coat took a step back. The doctor said you need to rest. He will talk with you in a-

No! I want… I want my… Drowsiness overtook him, and he fell asleep.

A man in a white coat sat on a stool next to the bed when Jace opened his eyes up once more. His chest ached, and his arm and shoulder were painfully stiff. The room was silent with only the sound of his own hard breathing. Learning his lesson from the last time he tried to move, Jace just scanned the area to try to figure out what was going on.

He was in a very plain space. Besides his brown backpack hanging on a wall next to a door, no colors were anywhere to cover up the whites, blacks, and grays of the furnishings and equipment. Even the man wore colorless clothes.

Hello there, the man in the white coat said. I’m Dr. Si. How are you feeling?

I feel strange, Jace replied in a slow and mumbled tone.

We had to make you go to sleep because your injuries were still untreated.

That sparked alarm in Jace’s mind, slightly having him recover from his numbness. Where is my mom and dad? Where is Sarah?

Dr. Si stood up and put his hand on top of Jace’s. I’m afraid I have to tell you something sad. There was an accident.

Deep down, Jace knew what he was going to say.

You and your family were in a terrible car accident… Your parents and your sister are dead.

A tingle ran from his neck down to his legs, and his heart felt like it skipped a beat. Oh. So… When will I see them again? We’re going to the park.

Dr. Si patted Jace’s hand, then sat back down in the stool. Please try to understand what happened.

No! Jace shouted and he recoiled his hand. We are supposed to go to the park! I was going to take my sister on the slide!

Dr. Si stood up and inspected some equipment.

Where is my sister? Jace shouted as the grogginess started to kick in once more. Where is my mom and dad?

Dr. Si turned and left, leaving Jace alone to shout his confusion and frustration. Then he fell asleep once more.

The next couple of days were spent bedridden and mostly sleeping, not by his choice either. He would dream of a dizzying ride filled with glass and screams, and those feelings always made him feel sick. He couldn’t make out many of the details, but it was always the same. From time to time, he would awaken with someone sticking a needle in his arm to draw blood, to inspect the equipment around him, or to change the water next to his bed.

He discovered his arm and shoulder were in a sling, and his chest was wrapped in a white cloth, preventing him from really twisting or bending. Every attempt at movement was rewarded with pain.

Finally, he awoke without that strange grogginess. Dr. Si stood next to him, inspecting the equipment. He looked down at Jace, his eyebrows furrowing.

Oh, Jace. Did I wake you?

Jace shook his head.

Dr. Si sat on his stool. Listen, we’re having some problems locating your next of kin. Do you have any grandparents, or an uncle or aunt?

Maybe. I don’t know, he replied with another shake of his head.

Really? The man slightly nodded, as if thinking about something unrelated.

Jace couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw a smile appear on the man’s lips.

How old are you?

F-Five.

Do you know when your birthday is?

Jace nodded. March 22nd.

Five and a half, Dr. Si said, still nodding. Well, I’ll keep looking for your family. He stood up and left Jace in his bed.

After he was left alone, Jace slowly rolled over, moving carefully to avoid the unusual grinding in his shoulder. When he leapt down, he cringed at the painful sting in his chest. A few moments later, the ache left him, replaced by the chill on the hard floor.

When he left his room, he looked to see where Dr. Si went. All he saw was a blank hallway. He walked down the hallway, briefly looking through some of the open doors. There were a lot of people in beds. Some of them even had flowers, balloons, and teddy bears, and visiting people. Every room but his.

As he made his way down the hall, he heard the familiar voice of Dr. Si come from the far room. Jace walked up and paused when he heard the man talk.

Hi, Amanda. It’s Dr. Si… I’m well. Listen, I have a candidate for you… No, he’ll be old enough in six months… No, his entire family was killed in an accident last week. No one is looking for him… Correct. Six months… I will make arrangements with accounting… The usual… Okay, thanks. He hung up the phone.

Jace put his back against the wall, thinking about what he had just heard. Was Dr. Si talking about him?

The phone rang in Dr. Si’s office once more, but Jace wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying. He started to make his way back to the room. It was like he was grounded, and the people who put him there were out to get him. They did something to his family. They couldn’t be trusted. No one could be trusted.

Chapter One

The Pits. An illegal fighting arena where people of all ages fought for money and fame. The massive building sat in the middle of a barren field and had a dilapidated looking exterior. However, that was exactly what The Owner wanted it to look like. Inside the double doors were seats around an arena that was constructed in a hole in the ground, and high roller boxes above the stadium to give the best view of the matches below.

The ring changed every few months, with varying modifications such as elevated sides or a different overall shape, occasionally giving different challenges to the contestants during their bouts. No matter what the shape or design, it was symmetrical to give a balanced match to the fighters, and a new and different show to the unscrupulous spectators.

The overhead floodlights cast its hot gaze upon Jace’s shirtless body, which was sculpted from the countless hours of training, and the many fights he had endured throughout his life. He wore nylon/cotton stitched shorts that went just above his knees to allow decent mobility, as well as durability. He was barefoot, and his hands and ankles were wrapped in reinforcing tape.

He had been going to The Pits for more than seven years. Ever since he was taken to the Sanctuary for Orphaned Children on his 6th birthday, Jace had constantly gotten into fights. Sometimes, they were multiple times a week. He could still remember his first fight—the day after he arrived, when an older bully named Keith jumped him in the boy’s bathroom to steal his backpack. Ever since he arrived at the orphanage, fighting was all Jace knew and lived for.

His opponent walked onto the opposite side of the oval arena. They were about the same age, with similar attire and wrappings on their hands and feet. He had short blonde hair, but the large bottom lip caught his attention. Jace didn’t recognize him, but he didn’t really pay attention to the kids in the orphanage. He kept his distance from everyone. It was for their own safety, as everyone Jace had grown close to had been adopted.

Ladies and gentlemen, an announcer said over the intercom. Bets are now closed for match Y2-6. Gladiators, fight until knockout or tapout. Get ready.

A single hit of a bell rang through the large space, and the crowd cheered at the pending fight. The Lip brought his hands up to defend his face and stepped toward the middle of the oval arena.

Jace ran his fingers through his chin-length brown hair, then casually strolled toward the middle of the ring. As he approached, Jace studied his opponent.

Left foot forward. Right handed, so keep left guard up. No scars on face. Planted feet. Not used to fights. Sweat on brow. Twitchy eye movements. Nervous and scared at the match. Thin but toned frame. Forced training but underfed.

He sniffed and rubbed the tip of his nose with his thumb, then bobbed his shoulders as if to relax them. Then he went into his fighting position. The sooner this was over, the sooner he would get paid.

The two stood off motionless for a few heartbeats with Jace waiting for the inevitable first move from The Lip.

A quick right hook came at Jace. He barely ducked in time, the side of the arm hitting the top of his head. He countered with a jab of his own. It hit the boy’s stomach. Jace started to go high with his left but felt a sharp sting against his right eye. Immediately, anger flared with the pain, and he threw a right. His fist connected at the same time he felt his left arm block another blow. He threw a follow-up punch but hit only air. The Lip staggered back a few steps and fell to the floor.

Jace closed the distance, ready to kick his downed opponent across the face. The Lip scrambled back on his hands and knees, eventually getting to his feet.

Another brief standoff. The Lip stood near the far edge of the oval arena. Jace blocked him from getting back toward the middle of the ring.

A kick came in. Jace accepted the hit to his stomach and he caught the leg. He yanked back, bringing The Lip close to him. Then he went in for a tackle. The two went over the side of the arena and landed hard on the dirt floor, Jace on top. Jace sat up and, with gritted teeth, gave a series of hard right crosses against the boy’s face. He stopped, seeing the blood from the boy’s nose and mouth. The fight was over.

His heart raced, and he slowly came to his senses. As his adrenaline wore off, the fuzziness of the fight faded. Shouts came back into his ears when he started to once again become aware of his surroundings. He walked around the stage and toward the doorway out of the arena.

After getting cleaned up, Jace made his way toward The Owner’s box at the upper ring of The Pits. He gave a cough at a funky smell when he approached the booth. Even the fancy doors couldn’t contain the stench of The Owner’s disgusting cigars.

Jace knocked.

Come in, come in, Jace heard through the doors.

As the doors opened, the area filled with thick and foul-smelling smoke. He walked in the booth.

The Owner, whose name Jace never bothered to learn, sat in his usual oversized chair behind a decorated wooden desk, looking through a wall-sized window that gave a clear view of the arena below. Two women dressed in clothes that barely covered their breasts and waist were at either side of him waiting on his every need.

Jace had always disliked the man, figuring his use of children to fight one another for money in an arena was despicable. However, it was how he got started, and it was how he got paid. For a moment, Jace wondered if he was no better than The Owner, volunteering to step into the ring to fight for money.

The chair spun around, and The Owner took a deep drag of his large cigar. When he blew out the smoke, all Jace could see was the shining reflection on the man’s waxed bald head.

Jace, my boy! He gave a wide grin, took a deep swig of his dark drink, then lifted the empty glass. One of the women to his side took the glass and started their way toward the bar. I was wondering when you’d show up. He reached under his thick fur coat and took out an envelope, then tossed it on the desk.

Jace picked up the envelope and peeked inside to see the expected cash that filled it. It was filled, but it was also light. Where’s the rest?

That’s all there is. The Owner leaned forward and tapped the ashes of his cigar into an ashtray.

Bull shit! Jace slapped his hand, and the envelope, on the desk. This is barely a loser’s pay. Give me the rest of my money.

Now, now. Don’t let anger get the best of you. The Owner put the cigar in his mouth and lifted his hand when the barely dressed woman returned with the filled drink. He exhaled, smoke bursting out of every breathable orifice in his face. The Owner put the cigar between two fingers and used it like a pointer. Look, kid. Don’t get me wrong. You’re good, but you’re not great. He gestured to the envelope, a lick of ash falling on top of it. Your cut is based on how much I make. And I didn’t make much from you tonight. The fight was, what? Five seconds? Shit, pre-teens last longer in bed than that bout. It was pathetic. He started on his drink.

Jace’s right eye slightly twitched feeling the sting of the swelling.

You’ve beaten every kid I put in the ring with you. He took a puff of his cigar and leaned forward. You’ve got talent, kid. But you’re still in the minor leagues. He gave a grin, and he set his drink on his desk. Tell you what... He reached under his coat, took out another envelope, then tossed it on top of the one on the desk.

Jace looked at the second envelope as The Owner leaned back in his chair once more. What’s this?

An investment. He finished his drink, then put his cigar in his mouth as the woman