The Lamp (The Lamp Series, Book 1) by Jason Cunningham - HTML preview

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CHAPTER 4

V IOLET CHEWED HER nails, wondering when the rain

would stop. The gloomy weather only made her more

caustic than usual. Perched on a concrete step outside

a downtown office building, she sneered in the

direction of a growing parade of government dissidents,

wondering why they never took the time to make their

signs more attractive. “At least add a little pizzazz,” she

thought. They’d be smoked out in a few hours anyhow.

She considered taking a nap, but wanted to do

something more productive with her day, like hunting

for a few dollars. So she plotted her next hustle. Being

nineteen and slight of frame, she could get away with a

lot more than the guys could. For one thing, she looked

unassuming. In the minds of most, a cute teenage girl

is more likely to run you off the road while texting than

to steal every piece of jewelry from you while you talked

33

to her. But Violet could do exactly that, and was proud

of the skills she’d honed over the years as a kid

working the streets.

She was also a very crafty talker and knew exactly

how to get, and hold, someone’s attention for just long

enough to get away with any valuables they had on

them. Her skill was theft but her method was

distraction. She knew from experience that you never

want to pickpocket someone who’s just standing

around. You go for the person running to catch the

train, constantly checking his or her watch, or

preoccupied with a smart phone. Such people often fell

victim to Violet’s ruse and it allowed her to eat most

days, after a closing-time trip to the pawn shop. The

owners of the pawn shops all knew Violet was hocking

stolen goods, so they only offered her pennies on the

dollar for her exchange. They got some decent watches

and she got to fill her belly; that was the unstated

agreement.

But today Violet was feeling a bit off her game.

Maybe it was the crummy weather or the lack of sleep,

but she knew her mind wasn’t as sharp as usual. She

thought about not even going after the man with a

utility bag who had just passed her, even if it was

obvious the guy was in a hurry to get somewhere. But

34

the rumble in her stomach made her cave in, so she

started after him.

Levi stopped at the crosswalk, waiting on the

pedestrian light to flick on. Gas money and train fare

were not in the budget this week so he was forced to

manage the city on foot until payday. He was running

late due to another sleepless night, only drifting off for

an hour or so and then waking up to see that he

should’ve been dressed and out the door ten minutes

prior. He hated being late and took no pleasure in

handing out excuses, so the idea of jumping over the

cluster of cars sounded reasonable at the moment. “If

only I had the energy,” he thought.

“Excuse me?” said a small voice beside him.

Levi glanced down and saw a thin teenage girl

looking up at him. He thought she looked rather

mousy, with brown hair and eyes. She wore a blue

feather on the side of her head, threaded above her ear

and weaved into the fold.

“Can you tell me where Dickers Street is?” Violet

asked. “I’m totally lost right now.”

“It’s a few blocks east,” Levi replied, pointing to her

right. “If you pass Union just turn around. The sign

isn’t that easy to read.”

“Thanks, mister.”

35

By this point, Violet had already stolen Levi’s wallet

and loosened the clasp on his watch. Now there was

just one final step.

She put out her tiny hand, offering Levi a friendly

handshake, but he was mindful of his frightening grip

strength and just nodded and said, “No problem.”

The light changed and Violet was gone, happy

enough to settle for what she could get. Levi was

midway through the crosswalk when he noticed that

his watch felt unusually loose on his wrist. He fastened

the watch, wondering if he’d forgotten to latch it during

the morning rush. Nope. His mind ran through a few

scenarios and his hand shot to his back pocket at

once. It was gone.

“Hey!” he yelled. Violet was already fifty feet from him

when she turned slightly to see if he he’d locked onto

her. That’s when she saw Levi running toward her.

Violet’s feet went into overdrive and she ducked around

the corner and sprinted down a busy sidewalk. Levi

raced after her, clutching the utility bag tight against

his body, lest something important should fall out.

Violet dodged cars with ease, but Levi was gaining

ground on her. His lean, powerful legs were pumping

up and down like pistons, springing him forward.

Violet ducked into an alleyway and started ascending a

metal fire escape.

36

Violet was halfway up the first rung when she

suddenly felt weightless. At first, her mind told her the

stairway had collapsed beneath, but then she felt the

inhumanly strong arms clamped around her waist.

Levi gently set Violet onto the ground, her back against

a brick wall. He had her cornered and she knew it.

Both of them were breathing heavily but it was clear

that this escapade had reached its end.

“Give me the wallet,” Levi ordered.

Violet sighed and looked away with disappointment.

She handed him the wallet. Levi held it for a moment,

and then handed it back to her.

“Open it,” he said. “Go on. Open it up.”

“Look, I won’t bother you again. I’m sorry I took

your…”

“Open it!”

Violet’s hand shook nervously as she took the wallet

back from him and opened it. She was scared to look

him in the eyes.

“You see anything?” he asked.

Violet spread the wallet open and leafed through a

few bills.

“Nine dollars,” she replied in a soft voice.

“Yes. Nine dollars. That has to last me until my next

paycheck.”

37

Levi realized that his anger was directed toward a

tiny teenage girl, so he felt a bit ridiculous, but he

wanted her to feel it. This was personal.

“You’re not stealing from some guy in the Business

District,” he said. “I don’t have the luxury of going to

the mall with my friends or getting an allowance from

my parents.”

Violet turned away, still shaking, a tear already

welling up in the corner of her eye. Levi saw it.

Something he mentioned had troubled the girl and he

had no idea what it was. Or maybe he did.

“Where are your parents?” he asked.

Violet wiped her eyes and shrugged, I don’t know.

Levi’s anger disappeared in an instant. She was a

street kid.

“When’s the last time you had something to eat?” he

asked.

“It’s been a slow week.”

“How long?” he pressed.

She shrugged and said, “Day and a half? I don’t

remember.”

What a bummer. He looked down at the mousy girl in

front of him and only desired to give her a hug. But he

didn’t.

“Come with me.”

38

• • •

Levi sipped on the complimentary water-with-lemon

while Violet plowed through a stack of pancakes. He

found it amusing how squirrel-like she looked with

food-stuffed cheeks. She occasionally glanced up at

him between bites.

“You got kids?” she asked with a full mouth.

“No. I don’t.”

“How old are you?” she asked.

“Just eat your food.”

Levi almost cracked a smile when her eyes sank back

down. He found her directness and utter lack of

beating around the bush to be rather winsome.

“You know,” she started, “if you’re hard up for cash,

you might want to consider selling that watch. You

could get a hundred for it easy.”

“I appreciate the financial advice, kid.”

“I’m not a kid. I’m nineteen.”

“Nineteen? You look twelve,” he said.

“You want me to say how old you look?”

Levi reached out and pulled the plate of pancakes

away from her.

“Okay, okay,” she said before he slid it back.

Violet continued her rhythm of eating while

occasionally glancing up with eyes full of questions.

39

For a teenager living on the streets, she still had a

sparkle in her eye. “Are you going to get fired or

something?” she asked.

“That’s not for you to worry about.”

“You could’ve just given me the money, you know.

You don’t have to babysit me all day.”

“I grew up on the streets too so don’t judge me as

naive. I don’t give money to strangers. For all I know,

you might leave and go blow every cent on drugs.”

Violet gave him an oh please look.

“Look, heroin took both my parents away. You think

I’d ever mess around with that crap? No thanks!” Her

eyes flicked up briefly. “By the way, that thing I just

did there… it’s called sharing.”

Levi nodded and sipped his water, wondering if

perhaps his job actually was in danger. He also wanted

a bite of her pancakes but resisted the urge.

“So what’s your story?” she asked.

“I work in a building and I fix stuff. That’s my story.”

She just stared at him, unsatisfied with his non-

answer.

“That’s not a story, dude. I’m not wearing a friggin’

wire.”

“What do you care about my past?” he said,

defensive.

40

“I’m just trying to pass the time since you insist on

supervising my dinner.”

He found it strange that she considered a meal at

nine o’clock in the morning to be dinner.

“Just eat your food,” he said. “This city is loud

enough without our voices adding to it.”

Violet finished the last bite and gave a big, hearty

smile to him before symbolically dusting off her hands.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said. “I have to get back

to…”

“Stealing?” he said, finishing her sentence.

“You have four dollars left to your name, mister. I’d

hate for you to get fired now because of little old me.”

Levi just stared at her for a moment. Violet wasn’t

sure why he was looking at her so intensely. To her, it

felt almost fatherly. Either that or he wanted to

strangle her. Her eyes took in his scarred fists and she

began to wonder what kind of life he’d lived. Levi’s

voice cracked a bit as he cleared his throat.

“I killed a man,” he said plainly.

“Whoa,” fell out of her mouth.

“It’s a long story but I did some time and now I’m

out.”

“Must’ve been a long time ago if you’re already free.”

“It’s been seven years.”

41

Violet gulped. Levi himself didn’t know why he

wanted to share his secrets with this teenager he’d just

met. But the weight on his chest needed lifting and

since he’d bought her breakfast, he might expect a

sympathetic ear. He also found it easier to say these

kinds of things to a stranger who had little business

judging his moral failings.

“It was a bar fight,” he said. “I was having beers with

my manager and a few friends. I look up and see one of

my buddies scrapping with a group of guys and he’s

getting overwhelmed. It was five-on-one so he obviously

needed some help. I go over and light one of them up.

Right cross to the chin. He went down hard and

everything stopped. People ran; the cops showed up.”

The room seemed to get smaller as Violet listened

intently to his words.

“The guy I hit was in a coma for three days,” Levi

said. “Then he, you know, died. Because of me.”

Violet felt her lips tremble.

“But you were just trying to help your friend,” she

said. “It was a freak accident. You weren’t trying to kill

anybody.”

Violet saw that his eyes were pensive and stoic, like

he was trying to guard his emotions behind a steel

mask.

42

“The guy I punched was trying to break up the fight.

He wasn’t beating up my friend, he was protecting

him.” Levi paused. “I didn’t know until after.”

Violet had trouble swallowing with the knot in her

throat. Only when she felt that her cheek was wet did

she realize a tear had fallen.

“I hit the wrong guy,” Levi said. “I took away

someone’s son. Someone’s future. And for nothing.

Now I fix commodes and I’m lucky to even do that. I

should be rotting away in Hinnom Valley. That’s my

story, kid.”

Levi avoided her gaze for a moment, then casually

stood up and walked toward the door.

“Wait,” Violet pleaded, calling after him. She got up

and met him at the door of the diner. “Do you want to

meet some of my friends?”

“You have friends?” he said, skeptical.

“Oh, that’s right,” she said. “You have to go to work.

Never mind then.”

“Why do you want me to meet your friends?” he

asked.

“It’s just… I can’t pay you back for the dinner. So the

only thing I can offer is some cheerful company. These

people are like my family. You’d love them. We can

make anyone laugh and have a good time. Even a bore

like you.”

43

“I’m a bore?”

“You don’t have to come, okay? It’s just the one thing

I can do. You know, like show hospitality or whatever.

Maybe after work.”

Levi had no interest in being cheered up by Violet

and her band of misfits, but he did feel a pressing

desire to keep her in his sights. Being street kids, they

might even know something that he didn’t — like who

K.S. was.

• • •

Russell was already waiting for him with an

exasperated posture when Levi entered the lobby.

“An hour and a half late, Levi? I thought you were a

stand-up kind of guy.”

Levi flashed a submissive grin as he approached

Russell, then motioned toward the door, outside of

which Violet stood on the sidewalk. She gave Russell a

pitiful look, trying to earn a few sympathy points from

him.

“I’m trying to help this kid out,” Levi said. “All right if

I take the day off? I’ll come in Saturday instead.”

Russell looked at the girl, then suspiciously back to

him.

44

“It’s not like that, Russell. She’s nineteen. I’m just

trying to find out if maybe I can help get her off the

street.”

“Why her?”

Levi thought for a moment before responding.

“Because she reminds me of someone, all right?”

“Toilet in thirteen is flooded. Take a look at it before

you leave.”

Levi gave him a wink and a pat on the shoulder,

nearly knocking Russell over. “Sorry,” Levi quietly

apologized under his breath.

• • •

Violet led him into the warehouse district around

noon. It was a four-block area of old factories where

abandoned buildings and rusty machinery came to die.

As they plodded along, Levi began to wonder why he’d

taken to the kid so quickly, much less allowing her to

lead him through this concrete graveyard when he

should be at work. Lord knows he needed the money.

At thirty-seven years of age, he had next to nothing in

common with a girl like Violet and probably had zero

chance of giving her a better life. And even still, he felt

an uncanny need to protect her. From what, he didn’t

know. But the urge was too strong to simply ignore.

45

Dusty sunlight fell through cracks in the battered

roof as they stepped into an abandoned storage facility.

Upon their entry, no fewer than eleven people of

various ages began to rise up from dirty mattresses

and worn-out furniture. The youngest boy, John, was

fifteen, and the oldest was Matt, at nearly fifty. Their

clothes were all wrecked and the entire crew was in

need of a serious meal and a hot shower. With soap

and shampoo.

“All of you live here?” Levi asked.

“Who is this, Violet?” Matt wondered aloud.

“Guys, this is Levi. He’s totally cool, don’t worry.

Yeah, Levi, we do.” Violet answered for the group.

“Welcome to our Shangri-La.”

Levi felt his stomach turn. He wasn’t exactly a man

of means but these conditions were just pitiable and

inhumane. Yet, judging by the look on their faces, the

group took some kind of pride in the fact that this was

their own little place in the world, a paradise of old

machinery and cardboard walls to partition what he

assumed were private “bedrooms.”

John, the smallest, asked, “Is he staying with us,

Violet?”

Violet turned curiously toward Levi, the unanswered

question implicit in her gesture.

“No… no, I’m not,” he answered.

46

“Wait a minute,” implored a voice from the group.

Jack, a thirty-year-old with an old man’s beard,

stepped forward. “You’re Levi the Leveler. I saw you

fight at The Coliseum. It’s really you, isn’t it?”

Levi took a step back. “That was a long time ago,” he

answered. Now I’m just Levi the Handyman. And my

leveler is… an actual leveler.”

Jack looked at him from underneath a matted beard

with awe-filled eyes. “Holy cow, man. What are you

doing here?”

Levi had to shrug, conceding the obvious. “I have no

idea.”

• • •

The hours passed like a quick blur for him. Violet

was right: these folks could cheer up even a bore like

him. Jack taught him a card game they’d invented, but

Levi was reluctant to gamble in a room full of grifters,

no matter how pleasant their attitudes. Violet played

checkers with John in a corner while Levi and three

others talked over their game.

“Mind if I ask you guys a question?” Levi asked the

group.

“Shoot,” Jack shot back.

47

“I was just wondering if you guys ever heard of a cat

named K.S.”

“Are those initials?” Matt asked.

“I think so,” Levi answered. “Someone’s been sending

me messages and I can’t quite figure out who it might

be.”

Matt shrugged and folded his hand. Jack picked up

his ace.

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Jack said. “Pardon the pun,

champ.”

Levi sat back, conceding his hand to Jack as well.

“What kind of messages?” Jack inquired.

“Very cryptic letters. Hard to understand. I was

thinking maybe it was a game but some things have

transpired and… well, I want to get a handle on who

I’m dealing with here. I need to know if I can trust him.

Or her. Or it.”

A voice came from the other side of the room. “Like

the comic book?” John asked as he jumped Violet’s last

game piece. She sank in her seat, disappointed.

“What comic book?” Levi asked.

“Shadow Lurker,” John said. In answer to their

blank stares, he continued, “You guys never read

Shadow Lurker? Man, you’re totally missing out.”

48

Violet smiled at her fifteen-year-old buddy.

“Enlighten us, John. What does that have to do with

anything they’re talking about?”

“Well,” John started, addressing them like an expert

on the matter, “K.S. is a central figure in it. The comic

is pretty original too because it’s told from the point of

view of the villain, who’s this mysterious assassin and

operates in a band of Shadow Lurkers. They’re like

ninjas but way more creepy. You don’t want to read it

before going to bed, that’s for sure!”

Levi sat up straight and said, “John, do you have a

copy with you?”

“No,” John replied sadly. “It’s been out of print for a

while but you can find them in thrift shops every once

in a while. I found a whole stack in a dumpster but I

lost them.”

“So who is K.S.?” Levi asked.

John smiled widely. “He’s the villain.”

“The villain?” Levi repeated, almost choking on his

words.

“Well, I guess it depends on your perspective. Since

the bad guy is telling the story, most normal folks

would say K.S. is the good guy. The Shadow Lurkers

are his rivals and it’s set up as a war over this city

called Salem. K.S. is the king of Salem, hence the

initials, and the Lurkers want to take over and enslave,

49

or liberate, everyone. Again, it depends on the

perspective.”

“It’s just a comic book, little buddy,” Violet said

before turning to Levi apologetically. “You guys can

just ignore anything coming from this side of the

room.”

John shrugged and offered, “Maybe whoever is

sending you those messages read the comic and is

trying to tell you something through code.”

“Like what?” Matt asked with big, curious eyes.

“Hell if I know,” John said.

• • •

After spending the day in an old factory-tur