Downfall (The Light Thief Book 5), page 1
Contents
FREE BOOK!
A Note From the Author
Prologue
I. INTERLOPERS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
II. INSTIGATION
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
III. INSURRECTION
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
IV. INSANITY
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
V. INERTIA
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
VI. INTERFERENCE
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Epilogue
Thank You
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Downfall
The Light Thief, Book 5
David Webb
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Friedrich Nietzsche
A Note From the Author
Thank you for purchasing Downfall, the fifth book in the Light Thief saga.
Before you read this book, however, it is highly recommended that you read Operative, a short story about Elliot’s time in Lightbringer custody. This will give you important context to his motivations and actions in Downfall. I felt that his story was an important one to tell, but it wasn’t long enough to be its own book, and it deviated from the natural course of the series.
Therefore, I’ve made it freely accessible via my website, so if you haven’t already, please go to jdavidwebb.com/operative and get your free copy of this short story today.
Note that Operative contains very dark and disturbing imagery, inspired by real-life military desensitization techniques. This story is not recommended for children under the age of 13, nor for those afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental ailments.
Please read at your own discretion.
Prologue
“The time has almost come.”
As soon as the words left the Director’s mouth, the green pool of light suspended in the air before him rippled vibrantly.
The Director continued, “My servant in Level XVIII has nearly finished his work, and soon my own will begin.”
“Good,” an ethereal voice spoke, and the green-tinted steel walls of the Director’s communications chamber seemed to vibrate as the deep bass echoed throughout the room. “The final pieces are falling into place. Too long have we waited.”
“It hasn’t been that long.”
“To one who has no concept of time, perhaps not. You are not expected to under—”
The voice suddenly cut off as the green pool of light flashed yellow.
“Did I lose you?” the Director asked.
“Silence.”
After a moment, the ground beneath the Director’s feet trembled slightly, and he looked down, frowning.
When all was still for several seconds, the voice spoke slowly again.
“Director, it is imperative that you investigate this disturbance.”
“Oh? We get solar flares semi-frequently, as you know. I didn’t think you felt them.”
The yellow light gradually faded back to green. “We do not. This was something else.”
“Do you mind sharing with the rest of the class?” the Director asked as he raised an eyebrow.
“We do, so we will not. There is no need for undue alarm. Simply investigate this disturbance and report your findings.”
The Director nodded. “And what of Project Lucifer?”
“Monitor your servant’s progress. I assume you have identified potential candidates?”
“I have one in mind, and another as backup just in case.”
“Good. When the process has been perfected, prepare the child and protect it at all costs. It is time for us to return.”
Part I
INTERLOPERS
1
“Witness.”
Aniya’s head spun as bright light swirled over her head.
“Witness and learn.”
The hissing voice faded away as Aniya blinked rapidly. She tried to sit up, but her head was pounding. Moaning in pain, she simply watched the swirling light above.
Eventually, they slowed to a stop, and Aniya realized they were stars. She frowned and craned her neck to the side, examining the trees that surrounded the large crater she had made on impact.
She was back on Earth.
“Did I do this?” she muttered to herself, straining her memory as she closed her eyes.
The last thing she remembered was being with Nicholas’s spirit in their private eternity, a void of her own design that she had created after embracing the light and flying into the sun.
It was pure bliss, at least it had been until they were forcefully sucked out of their sanctuary like a vacuum. That was the last thing Aniya remembered.
Nicholas.
A great weight settled in Aniya’s heart as she realized that her being back on Earth would mean that Nicholas, whose body had been destroyed, was now gone for good.
Fighting back tears, Aniya opened her eyes again, focusing on her surroundings to keep herself from giving in to grief. She turned to her side, and her breath was stolen away as she laid eyes on her lover lying next to her.
His body was whole, unbroken.
Aniya stared at him now with utter bewilderment. She had personally disintegrated his body and united with it to restore the sun. His mere existence was an impossibility, let alone the fact that he was lying before her now. But then again, her own body had been destroyed as well. None of this made any sense.
She shook her head and propped herself up on an arm as she stroked his face. All that mattered was that he was here with her now. She didn’t care how.
“Nicholas, are you okay?” she asked, squeezing his hand.
He didn’t respond.
Aniya wanted to get up and rouse him, but her head still ached, so she sighed and looked back up at the stars.
Did I fail? Was this all a waste?
After all her efforts to defeat the Lightbringers, to take all that energy inside herself and repower the dead sun, she had wound up back on Earth.
Maybe she didn’t fail. Maybe she had done exactly what she had intended, returning to Earth after the sun had taken her power.
My power.
Aniya looked down at her hands and just then realized that her right hand was holding something hard.
It was the crystal Kira had given her all those years ago. As Aniya turned it over in her palm, she realized it was clear now, with no sign of glowing light within.
That’s impossible. I broke this.
Putting aside her confusion for a moment, Aniya closed her eyes and searched for the light that she had carried for years. She had mastered the art of embracing her power, a light that often manifested itself in a sentient being.
But as she closed her eyes, nothing came to greet her. Not the Director, not the Chancellor, not William.
Nothing.
She held her breath, desperately searching the dark cavities of her mind for any sign of the incredible power that once raced through her body.
Eventually, she grew light-headed, and her heart raced as she readied herself to embrace her power yet again. But as her mind grew darker still, she realized that it was from holding her breath for too long.
It was then that she heard footsteps and her hope ignited yet again, but only for a moment until she realized that the footsteps came from the waking world.
Gasping for air, Aniya shot up,
“Who are you?” a man demanded from behind the weapon, his details fuzzy in Aniya’s clouded vision. “What are you doing here?”
As Aniya’s vision cleared, the man’s shape solidified into a dark figure that loomed over her threateningly. She squinted in the darkness as a familiarity in the man’s voice sparked an ancient memory.
“Do you know who I am?” the man said, raising his voice. “Did Caspian send you?”
Aniya’s heart froze as a horrible realization lit ablaze in her mind, and every memory of this evil man came racing back to her in an instant.
The horrific image of her parents lying dead, killed at his hands. The heartless look on his face as he executed Kira in front of her. The sacrifice of her brother William as he plummeted down the reactor shaft with the same man that stood over Aniya now.
It was the assassin who had relentlessly hunted her all across the Web, forcing her into the hands of the Chancellor, Kendall, and the Director.
The Operative.
A furious scream leapt out of Aniya’s throat, unbidden, as she dropped Kira’s crystal and threw herself at the man. As she tackled him and mounted his chest, every ounce of pain disappeared, dwarfed by the rage boiling her blood and the adrenaline urging her on.
“You killed my parents!” she shrieked as she punched him in the face. “You murdered an innocent girl!”
The Operative tried to push her away as he shouted back, “What are you talking about? Who are you?”
Aniya grabbed his hands and forced them to the ground as she glared at him, hissing, “And now, I’m going to kill you.”
His eyes widened, and the next thing Aniya knew, she was being kicked away, flying back to Nicholas and crashing into his side.
“What’s going on?”
Aniya turned to see Nicholas sitting up, holding his head as he moaned. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed his arm as she helped him to his feet. “Nicholas! Are you okay?” Still finding it hard to believe that he was alive, she pressed her hands up against his chest, shoulders, then face. “You’re alive. Thank God you’re alive.”
Nicholas nodded and blinked rapidly. “What happened, Aniya?”
“I don’t know, but I know someone who can tell us.” Aniya said, not bothering to hide her disgust as she looked back at the man. “It’s him, Nicholas. It’s the Operative.”
Frowning, Nicholas followed her gaze.
The Operative was standing now, and he picked his crossbow up from the ground, only to aim it at them again.
“Who are you?” the man repeated, his voice hardening.
Aniya felt Nicholas’s muscles tense up as she held his arm.
“It’s you,” he said hoarsely. “The Chancellor’s Operative. How are you still alive?”
A chill raced down Aniya’s spine. This was impossible. She’d watched him die. And as she stared at the man who killed her parents, she realized now that he looked younger and no worse for wear. Nothing about this was right.
She looked around, positive that she had to be dreaming. Maybe in one of Caspian’s simulations somehow. Or maybe this was a dream? But she hadn’t slept ever since flying into the sun.
As she looked up, she realized that there was a giant hole in the sky ceiling above, revealing the black sky overhead. There was no sign of light above, no indication that anything had changed.
She looked back down at the Operative as goosebumps crawled over her flesh.
“Nicholas, where the hell are we?”
2
“What are you talking about?” The man asked, his wide eyes darting between Aniya and Nicholas. “My name is Elliot Prime, and I’m no operative. Who are you? And how did you survive the solar flare that just hit you?”
“Aniya . . .”
Aniya turned to see Nicholas staring at her, his eyes wider than the Operative’s. Ignoring him, she turned back to the assassin.
“How are you still alive? You look . . . younger.” Aniya’s blood chilled as she realized what must be true. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the Director. You were all along.”
The man who claimed his name was Elliot shook his head as his voice rose in pitch. “Listen, I don’t know who you are or who you think I am. I don’t know who your parents are, but I certainly didn’t kill them. I’ve only ever killed one man, and he . . .”
Aniya squinted as the man’s face turned pale. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I could never forget your face.”
“Game? You’re the one acting like you know me when we’ve never met. And you still haven’t answered my question. Did Caspian send you?”
“I don’t even know who that is,” Aniya said quickly as she recalled the trainer of the operatives and the Silver Guard, turned rebel. As the man’s eyes narrowed, she knew she didn’t quite sell the lie. “Now, are you going to put down the crossbow and fight me like a man, or are you going to hold on to your weapon like the coward we both know you are?”
“Aniya, stop talking.”
She spun around to face Nicholas again, clenching her hands into fists. “What is it?” she hissed.
Nicholas’s face was rapidly turning ashen. “We are not supposed to be here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Excuse me, please. We need just a moment,” Nicholas said to Elliot as he grabbed Aniya’s hand and led her away. They walked for several seconds before Nicholas froze in his tracks and turned to her. “Don’t freak out.”
“Why would I freak out?” Aniya asked shrilly. “The man who killed my parents is standing just a few feet away from us, still alive after we both saw him and my brother die. What part of this isn’t worth freaking out about?”
“Not that,” Nicholas said as he gestured for Aniya to lower her voice. “In fact, I thought you would be freaking out more because that’s not the same man who killed your parents.”
“What are you talking about?” Aniya squinted. “You spent more time with him than I ever did. You should know better than most that this is the Operative.”
Nicholas shook his head. “No, he isn’t. At least not yet.”
“Yet?”
“Can’t you see what’s going on? The fact that he’s still alive, he looks younger, and he obviously has no idea who you are?” Nicholas’s voice dropped to a hushed tone. “Aniya, we’re in the past.”
Aniya almost asked Nicholas to repeat himself, thinking there was no way he’d said what she thought she heard. But it was pointless. She knew she’d heard him correctly. Giving a forced laugh, she shook her head. “The past, Nicky? You’re joking, right?”
Nicholas looked around and shrugged. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“No, of course not. It’s impossible, that’s what’s obvious. You said it yourself when we were teens and we used to sit on your roof and you tried to explain physics to me.”
“After all the things we’ve seen, you really believe that this is impossible?”
“Yes!” Aniya exclaimed. “You made it very clear that it could never happen for literally a thousand reasons, including but not limited to paradoxes, causality, and something about the collapse of the space-time continuum. You didn’t think I was listening, did you?”
