The Lotus Effect (Rise Of The Ardent) by Bridget Ladd Page A

the darkness.
    I felt his arms relax after a moment and I heard the metal sliding mechanism retract itself back into the hidden safety of his sleeves. I couldn’t see exactly what kind of weapon he wielded in this unfathomable darkness that draped us like a cold wet fear, but it sounded menacing.
    He sighed, deep and regretful. “Relax. It’s only Eu’jinx,” he said in a resigned tone. “He won’t hurt you.”
    “ Eu’jinx ?” I hissed. “Who’s Eu’jinx and why exactly was he touching my leg? Better question, what is he doing in here in the first place?” My voice was high and tight in an effort not to screech.
    Xander didn’t respond.   He did, however, grab my arm and led me . . . yes, even further down the tunnel. He unknowingly tightened his grip after a moment. “He lives here.”
    “He what ?” I slowed, my eyes widening in the darkness.
    He must be joking.
    “This Eu’jinx . . . he’s a friend of yours?” I asked quieter this time—feeling another pang of guilt surface in my chest.
    “This is his home, the only place he feels safe. He was just curious when he approached you. He’s harmless.” His voice was automatic, emotionless.
    “How can he live in here?” I sputtered. The idea of anyone—anything—making this foul darkness their home, baffled my already exhausted mind. “Did the Council do something to him? No human being can possibly live here.” I was disgusted at the thought at first, then I felt horrible, realizing what Xander was about to say before he said it.
    Xander’s voice was sharp, angry. “According to the Council, he isn’t human—he’s Abnormal.” Xander paused, his tone falling bleak when he continued, “And he’s just a boy. Sector 7 planned to cast him out due to his albino affliction, but he escaped. And no matter how much one tries to convince him to leave this tunnel he always refuses.”
    “His parents?” I dared to ask.
    Xander was silent as he guided me up and over another stone curbing. I could tell he was facing me, and standing close, judging from the sound of his voice. “They kept him hidden most of his young life.” He paused a beat. “All it took was one mistake. Now, he survives alone.”
    Thrown off guard by his answer, I shook my head, finding it hard to swallow again. “How horribl e,” I managed to choke out at last. Sector 7 was notorious for casting out those with deformities, claiming it was the result of interbreeding with Outcasts. That the Abnormals would make us sick—but never had I met the victims of such cruelty first hand like this. Murdering his parents too? For only wanting to save their child?
    “ Sickness cannot Prosper. ” My own father’s voice echoed through my head.
    “I’m . . . I’m sorry.” The apology sounded empty, insignificant—but it was all I could offer. I turned my head to the emptiness behind me as Xander practically dragged me along, hoping that the poor boy who called this tunnel home would forgive my outburst, for kicking him away when he only sought comfort.
    Xander didn’t respond to that, but I could feel him withholding some thoughts of his own. He let go of my wrist. “We’re here. We need to get inside quickly—before anyone realizes the door has been opened.”
    I squinted from the sudden change of lighting. Xander glanced through the rusty three foot tall opening on the wall to our right before he signaled it was safe to follow. I stared uncertainly at the golden light that radiated from beyond the small square door, casting a slanted glow into the tunnel: another world stood beyond. A world I hoped I was ready for.
    Grabbing my hand, Xander reached down and informally pulled me up and over the lip of the opening. It didn’t seem so much like a door to me, but rather like we were climbing into a bleak painting. After closing the rusted and green-patinated door behind us, Xander began walking, offering no explanation of where we were, leading me down a narrow hallway with