Broken Butterflies Read online

  Copyright © 2012 by Shadow Stephens

  Cover design by Donna Dull

  Formatting by J. Titus

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Find out more about the author and upcoming books at www.shadowstephens.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/Shadowstephensbooks, https://twitter.com/#!/shadowstephens1

  – Amazon Edition –

  All rights reserved

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  A FATEFUL DAY

  FORCED REALITY

  CYCLES OF LIFE

  SAME OLD THING

  DISCOVERY CHANNEL

  CONSTRUCTIVE CHAOS

  UPTIGHT

  IRIDESCENT

  SEEING IS BELIEVING

  DRIVING LESSONS

  CROSS COUNTRY

  CLOSING A DOOR

  THE LONG JOURNEY HOME

  NEW BEGINNINGS

  CONFRONTING REALITY

  INTO DREAMS

  OUT OF THE WORLD AND INTO THE FIRE

  THINGS THAT SHAKE US

  TIME PASSES ON

  CUSTODY

  PREPARATIONS

  IT NEVER ENDS

  LEARNING THE PAST

  THE PITFALLS OF ALL EVIL

  WHAT DOESN’T KILL US

  STRANGE REALITIES

  SPEAK THE TRUTH

  REVELATIONS

  FILLING THE VOID

  DEMONS WILL PLAY

  LEARNING TO FLY

  LOVE FINDS YOU

  UPGRADING

  REFRESHER

  GHOST PARTICLES

  THE SUMMONING

  OF WAR

  MIND GAMES

  BUTTERFLY FIELDS

  ON THE CREST ENEMIES APPROACH

  AS THE MONTHS MOVE ON

  --Malcolm, Macbeth Act IV, scene iii

  Broken Butterflies is dedicated to all my fans who read and enjoyed Legion of Bats. It means the world to me.

  This also goes out to those of you that dare to be different. Always remember who you are and that you don't need to fit into a mold.

  Thanks to Nancy Felt and Liz Schulte for my edits.

  Julie Titus you are a rockin formatter girl.

  Donna Dull, your covers are amazing.

  Mom and Tracey, thanks for giving this book one more read through.

  Thanks to the people to make the deliciously refreshing Pepsi, without this I'm not sure my brain could function properly.

  Special thanks to my friends and family who always encourage me.

  Boarding the bullet train, Ilisha heaved her backpack onto her shoulder. “Damn it, why do I pack so much?” she muttered, as the bag slipped yet again.

  She stumbled up the stairs, landing knees first on her bag. Picking herself up, hoping nobody noticed, she straightened her hair and shirt.

  As she found her seat, she felt her cell vibrate in her pocket. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Are you on your way?” her mother asked, a tinge of panic in her voice.

  “Yes, I’ll be there soon.” Ilisha shook her head knowing her mom must be in panic mode.

  “There’s so much to do before the funeral. Honey, I need your help.”

  “I’m on the fastest train in the U.S.” Ilisha said.

  “I don’t know why you won’t fly.”

  “You know I’m afraid of flying.” Ilisha began to fidget with a button. Her mind filled with the image of oxygen masks falling and screaming people. “Look, I gotta go, I’ll be there soon.” Ilisha hung up.

  She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

  Ilisha slid her leather coat off and dropped it in the seat next to her. She straightened the ankle strap on her Manolo Blahniks, as she pulled her long black hair to one shoulder.

  The overhead speaker system crackled and rang with a woman’s voice. “Welcome aboard the Habrock bullet train—your alternative to flight. Our trip from Columbus Ohio to Denver Colorado will take ten hours, fourteen minutes. Please sit back and relax. An attendant will be around to take food and drink orders shortly.”

  Can I make that an extra stiff drink? Ilisha opened her eyes to a man standing in the aisle. He smiled kindly, stuffing his bag above him. Sliding in the seat directly across, and facing her, he extended his hand. “Bram.”

  “Ilisha Morrison.”

  His deep sapphire eyes bore into her. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asked. Something felt so familiar about him, almost like that feeling of coming home.

  He didn’t answer, but an attendant rolled up with a drink cart. “Beverage?” she chimed a little too happy.

  “Can I get a rum and coke? Make it a double.” The attendant reached beneath the cart and pulled out two tiny bottles of rum and poured them into a glass. When the soda was poured Ilisha reached out eagerly for the drink with two hands. “Come to mama,” she said, forgetting her question to Bram.

  “Bad day?” Bram watched as she sucked on a tiny straw.

  “You could say that.”

  “I’m sure it’ll get better.”

  “Actually, it won’t. I’m going to my grandma’s funeral and dealing with my mom.”

  “What’s wrong with your mom?”

  “Instead of grieving the loss of her mother, she’ll be making sure the good china is out.”

  He smiled. “Maybe that’s her way of dealing with stress.”

  “Actually it is, but it leaves me feeling more stress. Everything will need to be perfect.” She paused and took another drink. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her shed a tear, not even when my dad died.” Ilisha gave him a waning smile and tucked her glossy hair behind her ear. “And I just went totally TMI, sorry.”

  “Not at all, I asked.” Bram said, giving a smile.

  She turned her head toward the window to take in the scenery, but it flew by in a blur making her dizzy. Digging in her bag, she retrieved a Sudoku book. Lost in her puzzle, she didn’t realize Bram had spoken to her again.

  “You have a very unusual name.”

  “Huh?” She looked up from her puzzle as his words slowly soaked in.“Oh yeah, I could say the same thing about you.”

  Could this guy get any better looking? She bit down on the straw as her brown eyes scanned him. His black hair and black button down shirt brought out the color of his eyes. The cuffs of his fitted jeans rested atop his black boots. His shirt was un-tucked and his sleeves were rolled up his forearm. She blinked. Perfect hair, perfect chin, and those eyes, wow. He dresses nice too.

  “Do you trust me?” Bram asked, his rich baritone voice snapping her out of her thoughts.

  “What?” she asked, crinkling her forehead in confusion.

  “I need you to trust me, take my hand.”

  Her head cocked to the side and she bit down on her lip when he stretched out his hand.

  The train shook as if an earthquake threatened to derail it.

  “Take it!” he shouted.

  Though Bram seemed out of his mind, she felt as though something bad was abo
ut to happen. Ilisha slid her hand into his. Pulling her tight to his chest, he wrapped his arms around her. “Hey, what the—” she stopped speaking as illuminated butterflies appeared in the cabin. Ilisha’s eyes followed them as they drifted silently. Their wings lit the area with brilliant neon colors.

  The overhead lights flickered as a massive impact threw people and luggage forward. Ilisha’s head slammed into Bram’s chin. She sucked in a breath at the stinging sensation. A couple on the other side of the aisle was ejected from their seats. They hit face first into the backs of the ones facing them. Those that braced themselves and weren’t jarred looked around with wide eyes.

  The butterflies continued to drift through the cabin, undisturbed by the violence. They appeared to be intent on specific people. Landing on the chests of certain individuals, their wings fluttered a couple times before sinking under clothes and skin.

  “What’s happening?” Ilisha asked, frozen in Bram’s arms.

  The train car rocked violently again before shifting forward. The impact caused a woman to slide down the aisle on her backside as though it were ice. Her hands grasped at the air for something to hold onto. Ilisha thrust her hand out, but missed. Relief filled her when the lady took hold of a seat leg, her body jerking to a halt. Ilisha’s sense of calm was short lived when a wall of fire blasted through the cabin. The heat was so intense it blew her hair around her face.

  Behind her, the screeching of ripping metal, and screams from those around her rang in Ilisha’s ears. The car split down the middle as another train engine, with its nose lit up like a beacon, forced its way through the wreckage. Ilisha scrambled to get away.

  Bram’s arms hugged her tight. “Don’t worry,” he said, calm and collected.

  Ilisha nodded, her eyes wide as the engine ran over the lady in the aisle. Only her hand remained clutched to the seat leg, while the rest of her body was dragged under a spark-ridden wheel.

  The fire engulfed them, and she pinched her eyes shut waiting for the pain. None came. She peeked out and orange, red and black flames swirled all around, but didn’t come close to touching her skin. Bram looked peaceful despite the chaos surrounding them. Screams were intertwined with the sounds of destruction.

  The engine moved past in a streak of yellow. Large red Union Pacific letters blurred together as the engine barreled through the car with the engineer’s body flopping around in his seat. The other train came to a sudden stop, the iron wheels scraping along broken glass, and metal, lifting with the mangled passenger car heaped underneath. The engineer’s body flew forward forcing his face into the control panel, causing it to explode like a watermelon. Brain matter and bone splattered the glass around him.

  Ilisha sucked in a breath, her eyes full of shock, not blinking. The engine had suffocated most of the fire, but there was still burning debris and bodies scattered about. The smell filtered through Ilisha’s nose and she fought back nausea.

  Bram’s arms opened, and Ilisha fell back against her perfectly intact seat, hand clutching her chest. Miscellaneous limbs, entrails, and twisted metal surrounded them. Scanning the car, she looked for anyone who may be alive, but not a single person moved. She stood up to help, but Bram gently pushed her back down. “I know the nurse in you wants to save them, but you can’t.”

  Her body trembled as tears poured from her eyes. “I shouldn’t be alive. I should’ve helped those people.” Ilisha’s head shook from side to side.

  Bram kicked a giant hole in the side of the train and sunlight poured in, blinding Ilisha. She gasp and stood frozen for a second. Trying to block the light, she raised her hand to her forehead. She could feel her hand shaking against her skin.

  “Can you walk?” he asked.

  Ilisha’s mind stalled. She stared out the hole at nothing.

  She felt Bram’s hands around her legs as her feet left the floor. Ilisha rested her head against his chest as he cradled her in his arms. Bram carried her out, placing her on a patch of grass.

  “You’re going to be fine,” he whispered.

  Ilisha’s eyes rolled back, and her head hit the cool, green blades of grass.

  Ilisha’s eyes blinked against florescent lights. Puke green paint covered the walls in the room, and a curtain surrounded her.

  She pulled the nasal cannula, pumping oxygen, from her nose. The sticky pads connecting her to monitors were quickly tossed aside, causing alarms to ding. As soon as her feet hit the floor, a nurse rushed in.

  “I don’t think you should get up too fast.”

  “I’m fine,” Ilisha said, wobbling a little .

  The nurse took her elbow and steadied her, directing her back to the bed.

  “I need to get out of here,” Ilisha insisted.

  “The police need a statement and you should take it easy.”

  Police? It took Ilisha a second to remember. “What happened?”

  “You’re lucky to be alive. A cargo train hit the bullet train head on. Only a few didn’t sustain injuries or end up dead, and you’re one of them. The police want to question any survivors.” The nurse handed Ilisha a cup of ice. “Stay put and I’ll grab the officer.”

  Ilisha moved to the edge of the bed and waited. A cop walked in flipping open a small tablet of paper. Ilisha looked at the badge on his chest. “Wichita?”

  “Yes, you’re at the Wesley Medical Center. Can you tell me what you remember?”

  “Well, I don’t remember stopping in Wichita,” she said, smiling.

  The officer stared at his pad, pen ready. He didn’t return her smile.

  “Um, there was a collision right before a fireball came through my cabin. Another train engine followed the fire and stopped right beside me.”

  “How did you escape injury?”

  “There was this guy named Bram in the seat across from me. He shielded me.”

  The officer pulled a small stack of papers folded down the middle from inside his coat. His finger traced lines as he read silently. “I don’t see a Bram on the passenger list.”

  “Why would he lie about his name?”

  “I’m not sure ma’am, but the bigger question is, where is he now?”

  “I don’t know. I passed out.”

  The cop looked discouraged. “Okay, I think that’s enough for now, but I’ll need your contact information.” She gave him her number and her mother’s address and the officer shut his tablet and walked out the door.

  Ilisha listened to his conversation with the nurse. “She may have hit her head. She’s not making any sense.”

  “I’ll let the doctor know. We’ll run some more tests.”

  Great. Ilisha rested her elbows on her knees and her fingers gripped her hair in frustration. I don’t even know where my cell phone is to call mom. She’s going to be freaking out by now.

  She listened to the clock tick for forty-five minutes before someone came to check on her.

  “Hi,” the doctor said, flipping through her chart to find her name. “Ilisha. Wow, pretty name.” She rolled her eyes at his flattery attempt. “I’m Dr. Harris, head of the Neuro team. I hear you’re having some confusion since the accident.” He rolled a stool over and sat down next to her bed waiting for her answer.

  “I’m not confused. Look, I need to get out of here. I have a funeral to go to.”

  “I’d like to run an MRI before you go.”

  “No, no more tests. I’m fine. Other than fainting from the stress, nothing happened to me, correct?”

  “As far as we can tell.”

  “Then I’m going. You can either get me my release papers, or I’ll walk out without them.”

  “Well, I can’t force you to stay, and you don’t seem to be at risk.”

  “Exactly,” Ilisha said, beating her fingers on the bed in an impatient rhythm.

  The doctor went to add something further, but stopped when he saw the look on Ilisha’s face. Her dark brown eyes glinted, and he rolled the stool back. “I’ll have the nurse get your papers.”

 
Fifteen minutes passed before the nurse came in. “I think you need to stay.” She clutched her clipboard to her chest.

  “Look, I hate to be rude, but please don’t pull this crap. I’m a nurse; I know you can’t keep me. I’m not a threat, so hand me the papers.”

  Ilisha signed her name and the nurse handed Ilisha her purse and cell phone, both of which were attached to her at the time of the accident.

  She walked into the cool Kansas night. Checking her cell battery, she called information to find a cab to take her to a car rental. Instead of another conversation with her mother, she sent a text message. “I’m running later than I thought. Be there soon.” She hoped her mom hadn’t heard about the accident.

  The cab driver took her to the nearest rental car business, the airport. “Thanks.” She handed him some cash. She looked overhead as a 737 took off and a shiver rippled down her body. Walking into the office she picked a standard car and handed the clerk her credit card.

  She walked to her car and hit the unlock button, but stopped short of opening the door. Across the parking lot, under a light, stood Bram. Ilisha made her way across the lot, pausing for a passing bus. As the bus drove off Bram was no longer there. She dashed across to the spot where he had stood. At the edge of the asphalt was a grass bank. Bright lights illuminated the area. Not a living soul inhabited it. What the fetch?

  Ilisha looked in the distance willing him to appear. “I’m out of my mind.”

  As she turned to walk back to the car, thunder echoed overhead and rain poured from the sky. By the time she climbed in the driver’s seat, she was dripping wet.

  She drove around Wichita looking for the nearest department store, as her mind raced. Who the hell is Bram?

  A Kohls department store sign came into view on the next block. She parked the car. It didn’t matter how fast she walked, she could already wring the water from her clothes.

  A store clerk walked over. “It’s raining buckets out there,” she said, smiling.

  Thank you, Ms. Obvious. “Yeah it is.” Ilisha gave a quick smile and hurried to the clothes. What’s wrong with you? You’re never this rude.