Shadows Of The Sun Chapter 1: Two Worlds

Read chapter 1 of Shadows Of The Sun by BigDreams101 on NovelPedia.

“Stop right there!” a voice rang out through the dark alley. Boots hammered against damp stone as officers in blue uniforms tore through the narrow passage, their breath sharp in the cold air. Ahead of them, a lone dark figure moved with unsettling ease, gliding between the shadows in the alley. Gunfire cracked behind him in uneven bursts. The officers raised their Frontier Knell two point zero revolvers, muzzle flashes briefly lighting the walls as bullets tore into the darkness but the figure didn’t slow. Everywhere was dark, with only the source of light coming from a fake mechanical moon lying in the darkness above. Other minor lighting came from street lamplights. Winter moved through the streets without breaking stride. He vaulted over a stack of wooden crates and landed lightly on the other side. “Spread out!” one of the officers shouted. “Cut him off at the next junction!” More footsteps echoed through the maze of alleys. Winter clicked his tongue. “They never learn.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a small metallic device no larger than a coin. With a flick of his thumb, he tossed it behind him. The device struck the ground and suddenly a pulse of blue light erupted from it. The pursuing officers cried out as their vision blurred. Several stumbled into one another while another crashed shoulder-first into a wall. “Damn it! He's using gadgets again!” Winter allowed himself a faint smile. He looked up and saw rooftops ahead came into view. Without hesitation, he planted a foot against the wall and sprang upward. His fingers caught the edge of a balcony. In one fluid motion, he pulled himself onto the roof of a nearby building. Cold wind brushed against his face. From above, the city stretched endlessly beneath the glow of the mechanical moon. Two worlds. That was what the City Of White was. Beyond the colossal white walls rose towers of silver and gold, their windows shining like stars. Airships drifted lazily between them, and elevated railways glowed with streams of artificial light. This was Elysia Capital. On the other side lay the districts forgotten by the House of White. Cracked roads. Rusted buildings. Hungry children. And people like him. Cedar City. Winter's gaze lingered on the distant wall for a brief moment before another gunshot rang out. A bullet struck the rooftop inches from his foot. “Well, that was rude.” He stepped back just as a figure landed on the roof opposite him. Unlike the others, this officer wore a long white coat over his uniform. A silver mask covered the upper half of his face. Winter's playful expression faded. The officer slowly drew a black baton from his waist. “You've caused quite a lot of trouble tonight, wanted thief.” Winter sighed. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you.” With that, he increased his speed. The masked officer immediately followed, leaping across rooftops with surprising agility. Winter's coat fluttered behind him as he sprinted from one building to another, his eyes fixed on the colossal white wall standing at the edge of the district. The massive gate built into its center was already closed for the night, and even if it wasn't, there was no chance the guards would open it for a wanted thief. Reaching down to the utility belt strapped around his waist, Winter pulled out a compact metal launcher. The device unfolded in his hand with a soft click. Without slowing down, he aimed it toward the top of the wall and pulled the trigger. A steel hook shot forward with a sharp whistle before embedding itself firmly into the stone. The cable tightened instantly and yanked him upward. Wind rushed against his face as he soared over the streets below, the lights of the City of White shrinking beneath him. Moments later, his boots touched the top of the wall and he regained his balance with practiced ease. Unfortunately, the officers were equipped with the same technology. Several hooks shot through the air behind him and anchored themselves into the wall.