The Shadows We Hide by Jane Bailey (best short novels txt) 📕

that spiked in a small mohawk in the front and the top half of her face yet didn't impair her vision. She was wearing her converse so she was able to walk quietly and blend in to the darkness of the bar.
She watched the cage fight in fascination, realizing that the man that kept winning, was way too graceful for his muscle mass. It was like he was gliding.
He went by the name of Wolf and he won every time. She suspected that he was a Freak.
When the fights ended, Shadow headed to the bar and noticed a girl about her age sitting down staring at the tip jar. She saw the bartender tell the girl something that she didn't hear and drag the tip jar out of reach. Dick.
The bar was practically empty when Shadow headed over to the girl. "Looks like someone could use a drink." She said, standing behind the girl. Just then she noticed Wolf sitting just a few seats down from her.
The girl jumped. "Don't worry. I don't bite... But then again, all the creeps say that." Shadow flashed her a grin. "Two beers, please." She ordered after the bartender gave a beer to Wolverine.
"Um.. T-Thank you." The girl stuttered. She was definitely a runaway "What's your name?" She asked as the bartender gave them their beers. Doesn't he realize we're underage?

Shadow thought.
"I'm Shadow."
"Ah'm Magenta."
"What kind of name's Magenta?"
"What kind of name's Shadow?" She fired back with a grin knowing Shadow was just curious and not trying to offend.
"It's Ivy." She said while taking off her hood somehow knowing she could trust this girl and also very conscious of the Wolf watching them.
"Mariah." She said and took off her hood as well. She had long brunette hair with magenta streaks in it.
Shadow took a gulp of her beer easily seeing as how she grew up around it. Her Dad pretty much drank nothing but beer.
She tuned into the T.V when she heard it start talking about the 'Freak Phenomenon'. Ughh! Couldn't humans just get over it. They're as normal as humans. Well I guess it's we're as normal as humans now.

Shadow thought bitterly taking a large swig of her beer while remembering she was now a Freak.
She saw Mariah glance over at Wolf and freeze. There were two humans confronting him about money. One of them pulled a knife.
"Look out!" Mariah screamed.
Wolf spun around super fast and he pinned the human to the wall with his hand which along with his whole body, turned to metal.
The human friend was about to get involved and hit Wolf when Mariah decided to play hero. She put her fingers to her temple and the human somehow dropped unconscious.
The bartender along with a two of other people at the bar pulled out guns. "Freaks should all die!" One of them screamed.
While Wolf quickly attacked the two customers, Shadow solidified the bartenders shadow and made it throw the bartender across the room. He fell unconscious.
The rest of the patrons were staring in fear so Shadow grabbed Mariah's arm and dragged her outside.
Mariah faced Wolf. "You mind if we hitch a ride? Just to the next town where no one knows we're Freaks?" She asked.
"Yes." He said gruffly and continued walking.
"We saved your life!" She said indignantly.
"No you didn't." He replied.
"But-"
"No, Mariah." Shadow said softly. "Don't beg. We may be temporarily homeless but in no way does that mean we can't have pride."
She nodded and turned away from him.
He looked back and met Shadows eyes before driving away.
"What are we going to do now?" Mariah asked.
Shadow sighed. "I'm 95% sure that we can travel through the shadows if I hold on to you."
"95%?"
"I just found out about my Freakishness yesterday."
"Ah'm sorry, Ivy."
Shadow smiled. "It's all good, Mariah. You willing to take that chance though?"
"Sure."
Instead of concentrating, Shadow let her instincts take over and jumped from one shadow to another with Mariah in tow passing cars on the road easily.

Chapter Three

Derek/Wolf was back at the building for two minutes when he heard the bosses voice over the intercom.
"There is an meeting in my office right now Derek. It's Important."
Derek worked in place that poses as an insurance company but is really a haven for Freaks that try to protect other Freaks and keep the peace with humans. We still had no qualms about killing humans though if we had to.
He headed to John's office and turned to metal as soon as he got near the room. He could smell the SHP. Super Human Protection. They killed humans. Hated them with a passion. If you weren't a Freak you were an insect.
He walked in. Sitting in the room was the boss John Grey (controls stone), Blink Johnson (turns invisible), Kai Sato (turns in to a ball), Dylan Brown (runs really fast), Noah Simons (teleports), Scott Bradley (turns in to stone), Leah Carter (telekinetic), Adalfrid Thomas (Climbs anything), Nabila Hodo (Shifts in to any human), Boyde Miller (X-ray vision), and SHP, the boss Victor Smith (controls muscles through the mind), Tabitha Winfred (shifts in to any animal), Henry Jackson (half-cat), Jacob White (controls plants), and Loki Sampson (jumps really high).
"Calm down, Derek. We need to talk." Said the boss.
"What about, Johnny?" Derek growled.
"There is a war coming, Derek. A war against the humans. They're using the 'cure' as weapons now. What they lack in power they make up for in sheer numbers. I didn't want it to come to this and I'm not sure if we can prevent it. I'm not even entirely sure we will win." The boss admitted sadly.
The others gasped.
"How sure are you?" Noah asked.
"About 80% sure that we'll win."
"There is one way..." Victor trailed off.
"One way to what, Victor?" John asked.
"One way to up our chances about 15%."
Derek growled. "Well spit it out, Man! We don't got all Goddamn day."
He was getting sick of them beating around the bush.
Victor glared and pulled three papers full of pictures out of his pocket. "These mutants would help a great deal. They would make powerful allies and terrifying enemies."
When Derek saw the pictures he gasped. "Shit!"
"What is it, Derek?" Leah asked.
"I seen them!"
"Maybe you should start from the beginning, Derek." Noah demanded.
"I went to the bar in Laughlin City instead of coming back to the building with you guys after our last mission-"
"We already know that, Derek." Noah said impatiently.
"Shut it Noah and let me say my Goddamn piece!" Derek growled letting his fists turn into metal.
"Continue Derek." John said.
"As I was sayin', I went to the bar and fought in the cage before sittin' down a gettin' a beer. Those two girls were there a couple seats down from me. That one," he said pointing to the one with the blue hair, "goes by Shadow or some shit, and that one," he said pointing to the one with the pink streaks, "goes by Maroon or Magenta. Yeah, Magenta. Anyways, Shadow walks up behind Magenta and offered to buy her a drink. She was wearing all black but it suited her y'know? Magenta was wearin' a long dark pink coat and they both wore their hoods. They got to talkin and I'll admit I was eavesdroppin' but they were out of place."
"Go on."
"A couple humans walked up a started somethin' with me. It was clear that Shadow was gunna' stay out of it but when Magenta did something with her head and one of the guys dropped unconscious the bartender an' two others pulled guns on us. I attacked the two patrons but Shadow already did somethin' to the bartender." Derek said looking confused.
"Can you describe what she did, Derek?" Victor asked gazing at Shadows page.
"Her eyes turned black and she grew claws. Kinda like Henrys' only nicer and more feminine. Her canines even sharpened. Well I think they were naturally that way. I'm not sure. But anyway, the bartenders shadow somehow became solid and threw him across the room! We went outside and Magenta asked for a ride. I said no. I didn't want to bring some dangerous kids along disruptin' my peace an' quite."
"Nice, Derek. Real, nice." Noah mocked.
"You might wanna' shut yer' trap Asshole." Derek growled.
"Enough!" Victor yelled. "Shadows real name is Ivy Higgins. She just found out about her powers on June 19. Her Mother then kicked her out. She was then screamed at by the humans until she just disappeared. The humans said she had black eyes, she growled, she had sharp claws and teeth. They say she looked like a monster from their nightmares. All I could get for Magenta was that her name was Mariah Anne. She discovered her powers when she accidentally scrambled the brain of her boyfriend Andrew Collins who is now in a permanent coma. Shadow can control all darkness and shadows. Magenta is only a level three telepath but still very dangerous in one on one combat."
"Who's the guy with the swords?" Blink asked.
"Ryder Storm. He's a mercenary. Can shoot lasers out of his eyes, super fast reflexes, and has regenerative abilities that rival even yours Derek. He can survive decapitation." Victor listed off.
"And has." Henry threw in.
"His mind is also so warped that even the most powerful wouldn't be able to get in his mind."
"Well, that certainly can come in useful." Leah said.
"But what are we going to do? Go up to them and say, 'hey, there's a war coming that we may or may not even have a chance in Hell at winning. Wanna join?' I don't think that'll work out too well. All three of them would probably kill us though Magenta looks like she'll at least give us mercy if we beg. Ryder and Shadow look as if they'd laugh." Dylan said with a shudder.
"Yeah, they do look like people that would work with the eviler Freaks but we have to remember we're all on the same side right now." Scott said reasonably. "Besides look at Adalfrid and Boyde. They would be described as scary even though one's a doctor and the other one is a church go-er." Adalfrid was blue. Boyde had fangs and was purple.
"I guess.."