Key of the Phantasm

Key of the Phantasm

Book 1 of the Cascade Adventures Saga

Stacey T. Hunt

CASCADE ADVENTURES: KEY OF THE PHANTASM

Text copyright © 2018 by Stacey T. Hunt

Illustrations copyright © 2018 by Stacey T. Hunt

Cover art copyright © 2018 by Stacey T. Hunt

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Original cover art by Stacey T. Hunt

ISBN: 9781310399190

Dedicated to my dad, for being my role model and inspiration to be an author.

CONTENTS

Title

Author’s Note

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

About the Author

Author’s Note

In 2010, when I wrote the very first version of Cascade Adventures, it started off as the ultimate incarnation of childish abandonment and adventure: you fight bad guys, save a Queen, and explore a big, magical world. The rest of the books in this series continued to follow this trend. There wasn’t a whole lot of complexity. They were pretty much kids books, and they were enjoyed by, well, kids.

To tell you the truth; as I grew as a writer, I became less connected to this series.

So, now I’m changing it up a bit, starting with this book. This time, Kale loses so much more, putting a heavy emphasis on the necessity for Kale to mature faster. He also has his first encounter with the theme of death. And on top of that, he’s thrown into an entirely new world, with brand new customs and rules and creatures.

The outside world, which once invited exploration and wonder, is now cold and unforgiving. The intimidating nature of Cascade symbolizes the end of Kale’s innocent perception of the world. In effect, I turned a child’s story into the most thrilling novel I’ve ever had the pleasure to create. This is why I have to write; to create a profound and unforgettable story that I always wish existed, but didn’t until now. It’s got many complex themes, but they all weave together into one that is genuinely beautiful. And it is by far the most emotional story I’ve ever written.

This book is not the start of a reboot, nor is it meant to eclipse the old stories I wrote when I was younger. Think of this as… the next cycle.

I have no regrets.

Chapter 1

HIS LAST DAWN

In the middle of a vast and endless ocean, there was a tropical island paradise.

Somerton Island, as it was called. Not a dirty, crowded, vacation hot-spot where everything was commercialized and prices targeted vacationers; nay, rather it was a small, isolated place of light and tranquility.

Most of the islanders had deeply tanned skin and sun-bleached hair, and they were strong because of the work and labour of being a self-sufficient people. To some, it was slightly disconcerting that everyone was related. Rumours abounded world-wide that an island existing somewhere in the middle of the ocean was a cult of some kind. But then again, it was a fact that nobody from the rest of the world had ever even set foot on Somerton Island, and no one native to the island ever left.

The soft golden beaches of Somerton Island, reserved mainly for the children, stretched around the entire shore-line. The island itself was like a fairy-tale garden, filled with flowers and exotic trees. The ocean lapping on the shore was warm and transparent with shades of blue and light green. The air was crisp and clear, smelling of sea salt and the tang of tropical fruit. The calls of the gulls and the crashing of the waves could be heard from a great distance, along with the rustling of the palm trees in the ocean breeze. The sky, impossibly blue, wasn’t nearly as blue as the eyes of the islanders.

The people residing on Somerton Island had the brightest blue eyes that ever existed. They were so pure and perfect, you could see your reflection in them, like glass. The eyes were like deep oceans, vast whorls of cerulean nebulas. The islanders, who appeared so very alike to each other in general, had the same eyes… all except for one.

Somerton Island was still just as serene and ordinary as it had always been on that fateful dawn; on the day when everything ended, and everything began.

Kale Kipling, a young and somewhat-normal islander of fourteen years, awoke on this day to the sound of church bells.

Aside from the bells, which were incessantly loud, was the sound of someone breathing wetly in his ear.

Kale’s eyes cracked open, groggily.

His first sight was that of a sopping-wet stranger, crouched down at his bedside. His nose was merely a hair’s breadth from Kale’s own.

The afore-mentioned stranger—a boy around his age who was obviously not native to Somerton Island—smiled at him. Good mor—

YAAAAAGHH!

Kale thrashed around under the blanket.

The other boy was thoroughly surprised, but unfortunately for Kale, the stranger didn’t even budge. Wet white-blonde hair fell into slanted pale-green eyes that peered at him without pupils. Kale also noticed his long, pointed ears. The stranger reeked of fish and saltwater, which wasn’t all that odd—all things considered—but nonetheless, still startling in this situation.

Kale’s heart thumped wildly in his ribcage. Am I hallucinating? Please let me be hallucinating, he thought unrestrainedly. Maybe I’m still dreaming. But if not… then who is this and why is he here in my bedroom?

The boy stood suddenly. So skinny—he looked like he must’ve been around ninety pounds. He was several inches taller than Kale. Not only that; he didn’t seem particularly hostile. Kale, by this point, had gone into paralysis and was frantically searching for an escape route. There was none.

So, nervously biting the inside of his cheek and ignoring the scratching of his braces, Kale gingerly rose out of the bed.

That seemed to snap the kid back to reality. He quickly stepped back and raised his hands in surrender.

Wait! he exclaimed.

Kale stopped at the bed post. Who are you, and what do you want with me?!

The boy looked at him. A flicker of something—hurt?—passed over his face and clouded his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. So quickly, in fact, that had Kale blinked, he would have missed it completely.

Kale shook his head. Never mind my bedroom, how did you get on the island? Where are you from?

Well, I—

Kale? his mother called from down the hall. Is everything okay in there?

Both boys froze. Kale pointed to the window, mouthing the words Hide. Now.

The other boy was either stupid or very persistent, because he started motioning his hands to Kale as though attempting to tame a wild animal. The stranger drew in a long breath before prattling away like nothing was wrong. "Come on, please just hear me out. It took me literally all morning to track down your house; but I’m not trying to kill you or anything. However, you will be killed by a cryptic force of death and suffering if you don’t come with me right now."

If he was anything, this kid was a freakin’ chatterbox.

Kale scrunched up his nose. Are you threatening me?

No! Never! he exclaimed. "I’m trying to save you from something terrible that’s coming—"

And how in the world would you know something terrible is coming?

The boy seemed to relax a little. Because I’m from the future. You don’t know me yet, but we’ll be, like, best friends. My name is—

He was then lifted up by Kale, and promptly carried toward the window. As it turned out, the kid weighed less than ninety pounds.

Kale, let me go! the kid began kicking his legs, spraying water all over the place and sprinkling some on Kale. "You have to trust me! There’s a storm coming! And a tidal wave! And then monsters, and a thing that’s gonna swallow everything—"

The sound of someone banging on the door interrupted him.

Kale’s eyes darted between the stranger and the impending family member. He made a hasty decision and dumped the stranger out the window, which he then shut and latched as quickly as he could.

The strange boy stood up again in the tropical flower bush and was staring at Kale from the other side of the window, looking bewildered. He then broke out the puppy-dog eyes, but the effect was lost before it barely began when Kale closed his curtains.

The door swung open, banging once against the wall just as Kale quickly positioned his body to be blocking the window.

"Kaaaaaaale!" sang his little sister, Winnie, who came galloping into the room. She carelessly stepped all over his comic books (to his utter horror) and discarded laundry before hopping up onto Kale’s bed.

Winnie bounced on her knees. Today’s the day! The big game! she shouted. Then she stopped and patted the edge of the bed where the stranger had been. Hey, why is it wet here? And what was all that noise before?

None of your beeswax! Now whaddaya want? Kale asked insistently, gathering up his comics. His body trembled a little.

Winnie was grinning again in a second, her previous questions forgotten. "Mommy says you have to have breakfast with everybody today, so move your fat lazy butt!"

"I am not fat, I am completely healthy! Kale huffed, and shooed Winnie out of his room. Just get out of here! And don’t step on other people’s stuff!"

Kale closed the door behind her and leaned against it, heart racing. Once his breathing had regulated, he went back to his window again.

Alright, elf-ears, start talkin’! he declared, ripping the curtains open.

Kale leaned out and looked around. Curiously, he pulled the bush-branches apart and searched, but… the strange boy had completely vanished.

Kale waited a moment as he thoroughly scanned his yard from his bedroom, but there was no sight of him.

The sound of ringing bells continued.

So, Kale dressed and fixed his shaggy brown hair. To him it was perfectly-styled, but others tended to see it as carelessly-tousled. All the while, he was thinking about how annoying those bells were becoming, and about that bizarre boy.

He could think of nothing but questions: Who is he? How did he get in here? What does he want with me?

Outsiders weren’t allowed to even look upon the water surrounding the island. If an outsider was ever caught, well… Kale only heard rumours, but he really had no idea. He wished he knew why the island was so strict and secretive.

He also wanted to know what happened to the boy with long pointy ears.

Kale decided he was thinking about it too much, and went down the hall toward the kitchen. He was still shaking slightly, but no one seemed to notice. For some reason, today he decided to stop in the doorway and really take in the moment.

His mother, Genevieve Magnolia Kipling, piled buttered-cinnamon toast on a plate. The stack was oozing with delicious syrupy goodness.

Like all the other islanders, she had fair hair, tanned skin, and glittering blue eyes. Unlike the rest of the islanders, however, she was a woman of ample proportions. She had a gap between her two front teeth, and a way of walking into the room and averting everyone’s attention to her. He almost never saw her without her red and white checkered headband, and she had two tattoos; a dragon on her right upper arm, and twelve tiny stars surrounding a sun on her left ankle.

His older brother, Wade Murphy Kipling, sat at the table looking at a stack of pictures he’d taken for the school paper. He was very good at photography, and his older sister Ginevra was his favorite model.

Winona Winnie Alma Kipling was finishing up some last-minute homework. She was the youngest in the family, with bright eyes and a smile to match. She was the spitting image of Genevieve; if they had been the same age, they would have been twins. Only, Winnie was a little more tomboyish than her mother had been at Winnie’s age.

Winnie’s energy and creativity were boundless. Most of her sun-lightened hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, with two clumps of loose hair on either side of her head, as well as her bangs. She was currently wearing cargo shorts and Kale’s old blue jersey with the number 44 on the chest.

Two of his siblings, however, were not present.

Where’s Lael and Ginevra? asked Kale.

His mother looked up at him, startled, as if she hadn’t noticed him standing there. She smiled warmly at him when their eyes met. Lael went to school early today, complaining of a ringing in his ears, she answered, and returned to setting up breakfast for everyone. Ginevra’s in the bathroom. She’ll be in shortly.

Mornin’, Kale, Wade said without looking up at him. You slept in, again.

Uh-huh, said Kale, not listening. So Lael was hearing bells?

His mom looked over at him strangely. That’s what he said.

I’ve been hearing bells, too, Kale mumbled, rubbing his arm.

Me too! announced Winnie enthusiastically, leaning back in her chair and waving her hand around in the air.

No, you don’t, said Wade, tugging his little sister back down. Stop blindly agreeing with what everyone says.

"Don’t you hear them, Wade?" Kale inquired.

"Uh, no, dolt. Clean the earwax out of your ears occasionally, eh?" Wade rolled his eyes.

Well, has the church gone completely berserk, or something? Kale covered his ears. "Because I can definitely hear them. They won’t stop!"

His mom gave him a knowing, teasing smirk. Well, it might be because of all that loud music you’ve been listening to. I wouldn’t worry about it, if I was you.

Kale scowled. He wondered why not everyone could hear the bells. In any case, this conversation was headed south rather swiftly, and fast.

There are more pressing matters, he decided.

Uhm, he started, I should also mention someone just broke into my room…?

"That was meee! Winnie announced with a childish giggle, reaching her arms up in the air. She was eleven years old, but she was going through an I’m so WEIRD and RANDOM, HA-HA!" phase, but hey, phases couldn’t really be helped.

Kale gave her a look, which she completely ignored. "No, not you! Before you! This guy was in my room, watching me and waiting for me to wake up or something—"

"MOOOOOOM!!!"

Everyone’s head spun in the direction of the kitchen entrance, where Ginevra came barrelling in and screaming at the top of her lungs.

Ginevra Marina Kipling was the oldest child of the family at eighteen years old—Wade was right behind her at seventeen.

MOM! MOM! MOM! Ginevra announced, shoving past Kale. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!

Was someone in your room this morning? Kale accused eagerly, pointing a finger at her.

Ginevra stopped in her tracks and gave him an incredulous look. "NO, the night before! She whipped back around and grabbed Guinevere’s arm. Mom, can we please talk in private—"

Ginevra, what’s the matter? asked Wade, standing up from his chair. There was visible concern on his face.

Why is it someone just broke into my room this morning and no-one cares, Kale complained, arms crossed, "but Ginevra’s room was broken into yesterday and everyone makes a huge stink about it?"

He was ignored.

Look, I just need to talk to Mom for, like, two seconds—

UGH, Kale groaned with an eyeroll. You’ve already made a big show about it, Ginevra! Just spill the beans! We’re all gonna hear every detail eventually, anyway!

"Fine! Ginevra declared. With a serious lift of one eyebrow, she lifted a pregnancy tester into the air. I’m pregnant."

Suddenly, Kale and his morning visitor was the last thing on everyone’s mind.

Oh my gosh! Honey, that’s great! Guinevere gushed, pulling Ginevra in for a hug.

It is!? Ginevra panicked, eyes wide.

I’m gonna be an auntie! Winnie hollered, standing up on her chair.

And I’m going to be a grandma! Guinevere joined in.

"But I’m not ready to be a mother!" Ginevra wailed.

Who’s the father…? Wade grumbled, brows knotted.

Marsh, Ginevra replied, sounding a little testy.

Your dad’s third-cousin’s brother-in-law? asked Guinevere.

That’s right. I’m graduating with him this year.

What, you’re back together? Wade questioned, bitterly surprised, for some reason.

Well, officially now, yeah.

Kale narrowed his eyes suspiciously, glancing between Wade and Ginevra. There was a tension here between them, but Kale couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Uh, guys? About the intruder…? Kale tried again.

Intruder, nothing! It was probably just great grandpa Gus or something. Who cares? Ginevra replied hastily, uninterested. He’s been known for that kind of thing.

But this guy wasn’t from Somerton! Kale persisted.

That’s impossible, Kale, Wade told him, raising a brow. "No one has ever come to Somerton Island, like, ever."

This is serious, you guys! Kale interrupted, certainly not in the mood to be treated like an over-imaginative child. We have an outsider! He has pointy ears and his eyes don’t have any pupils and he’s super-duper pale and skinny—

Sound’s like you’re hallucinating again, lil’ bro, said Ginevra tiredly.

"Guys, I’m not crazy!" Kale looked around at them helplessly, but they only looked amused.

That’s impossible, Kale.

He huffed and glared down at his feet. Never mind. I was probably just dreaming.

Winnie was still smiling at him, though. She’d always looked up to him, and was his biggest fan. She even begged their mom to cut her hair the same way as his. But Guinevere always said she’d have to wait until she turned thirteen, because she didn’t want Winnie to regret it. Kale always doubted she would, though, because she’d always been interested in boyish things for some reason.

Winnie asked him, Are you excited for the big game, Kale?

"Duh," Kale answered her, making a face, which she giggled at.

Kale was the captain and star player of his Aquaball team. Aquaball was a very popular game on Somerton Island, in which basically two teams played underwater and passed a ball to their teammates and then into the goal.

The islanders were gifted with tremendous lung capacities and the ability to swim extremely well. Aquaball was Kale’s favourite game, and it was Somerton Island’s favourite as well. The Kipling family was especially involved with it. Their father—Mr. Winnifred Kipling—had been the captain, as well as his father before him, and his father before him, and so on.

Wade had asthma, and Ginevra got kicked off the girl’s team for excessive cheating and misbehaving. Which meant Kale, being next in line, had to join the game and reclaim the Kipling Captain Crown. Not that he minded, of course.

Genevieve came over to Kale with some toast. Kale hungrily snatched one up before kissing his mother on the cheek.

Heading toward the door, Kale called out, Well then, I’m heading out. See you guys at the game!

See you after school, pumpkin! Genevieve called after him.

And with that, Kale demolished his toast, doubled back to grab a second one, and bolted to the door.

God, what an attention-hog, he heard Ginevra grumble in vexation when she thought he was out of ear-shot.

With a sigh, knowing his sister wasn’t one to talk, Kale slipped on his sandals before slipping on his pack, and headed outside.

He was scarfing down his second piece of toast as he stalked down the walkway, about to pass the wide-open garage doors, until Mr. Kipling called him over.

Oh! Hello, Kale! he called jauntily, waving at him with his paintbrush. Off to school, now?

Kale paused mid-stride, popping the last of his toast into his mouth as his eyes slid slowly toward the man.

But Winnifred had already returned his attention to the large white canvas. I was a bit of a late-riser in my day, he chortled.

Imagine that, he muttered, coming over. Whatcha’ doin’?

Winnifred Kipling, a wide man in his late forties, was mixing green and red on his colour pallet. I realize Genevieve probably hasn’t had a picture of our family in a long time, so I’ve decided to paint a picture for her to hang up in our home. I’ve only painted pictures of flowers before, so I hope this will turn out okay.

Kale looked at him. He seemed so melancholic, slouched on his little stool with his paintbrush and paint set, spreading colour over the sketches and line work on his canvas. When he noticed Kale watching him, he smiled a little. Well… you’d better run along, now. I apologize for keeping you. I would drive you, but… well. It’s not cool if the popular kid gets driven to school by their parents. Isn’t that right?

Kale shrugged indifferently as he abruptly turned away.

When he made it to the foot of the driveway, there was a rustling in the bushes by the garage. When his head snapped in that direction he caught a flash of a pale face, watching him, but in an instant, it was gone. Doing his best to ignore the shivers running laps up and down his spine, Kale started to walk a little faster.

He walked the rest of the way to school feeling a bit anxious until he spotted a massive crowd of people buzzing amongst themselves in front of the school. He sized up the fans as he made his way over, putting on a smug smile.

At that moment, one of the fans spotted him and alerted their friends. With a squeal of joy, the packs of islanders came running. Kale didn’t even have a chance to cross the parking lot.

Can I have your autograph? asked a boy, holding out his Aquaball for him.

Of course, he replied, flashing a toothy smile as he pulled out his pen from his bag. He scribbled his name across the blue and green ball before handing it back to him.

Another kid with pigtails offered her ball to Kale. Good luck tonight! She batted her eyelashes as he signed it for her.

Nothing to worry about, he grinned, winking as he spun the ball on his finger. She smiled as he passed it back to her. Oh, when I score a goal, I’ll do this! He put both his hands in the air above his head, thumb and forefinger extended. That’ll mean it was for you, okay?

The girl giggled, coyly hiding her face with the ball.

What seat? Kale asked.

East block, in the front row. Fifth from the right! replied pigtail girl, swaying from side to side.

Kale nodded his head. Got it! He was about to pass her when she spoke again.

I’ve been a big fan of yours from the very beginning!

I won’t let you down, Kale assured him.

Th-Thanks!

Another kid walked up to him. Are you gonna show us that legendary shot tonight? The one your dad always did?

You should do it!

For us!

Kale’s winning smile remained effervescent on his face as he turned around.

There was a single student leaning against the wall plainly, arms hanging down. Watching him. Kale was about to continue with his fans and looked away, but his attention snapped back onto the boy when he caught a glimpse of white-blonde hair poking out.

That was when Kale recognized him as the boy from that morning. Kale nearly jumped out of his skin, flabbergasted.

The boy was wearing a hoodie with the school’s name and colours—green and blue—that he probably stole from the lost and found. To anyone, he was just a regular student leaning against the wall with his hood pulled down low. But Kale could tell, mostly because he could still see the shapes of his ears showing through the hood, as well as his pale hands hanging at his sides, his scraggy physique, and piercing pupil-less gaze. Granted, he’d had to look twice, but still.

Curious, Kale made his way through the crowd toward him. As he drew closer, he opened his mouth to say something.

But he stared a little longer than he should have, and the boy beat him to the punch.

That game tonight… it’s not important, the stranger said as Kale approached.

Okay then, Kale thought as he froze in his steps. In between him and the stranger were more kids, but those kids looked like they were about to wet themselves in excitement.

Can you sign this? asked another boy. He offered Kale his Aquaball.

No prob, Kale chuckled, taking his pen and scrawling his name across it.

A boy in an orange beanie then raised his ball in the air and cried, "Please!?"

Kale smiled. Alrighty.

The third kid started jumping up and down. Me too! he squealed eagerly.

Take it easy, Kale laughed, signing the kid’s ball.

Several more fans stepped up, wishing him luck with the game. After a few more minutes, he stepped back from the fans.

Well, gotta go, he said apologetically. Cheer for me!

The orange beanie kid looked at his friends and began to count. …two, three! As if they’d planned it. All the kids jumped and cried, Teach us how to be like you!

Kale smiled. Hey, I’ve gotta get to school! he called, flattered.

The boy in the beanie called, Then teach us after!

Um, well…

The kids all smiled and performed the Aquaball victory symbol. Kale thanked them, thanked all his fans, and hurried into the school.

He weaved in and out of the crowds in order to lose the stranger. He was starting to get creeped out.

It seemed to work, so he went to his girlfriend’s locker to see if she was there, but she wasn’t. It was strange; Chance Lucerne, the mayor’s daughter, was always one of the first students in the school, since she was president of the student council and liked to chat with the teachers and say hi to all the kids as they arrived. She said it was for impressions and things like that.

When Kale and Chance were little kids, they would sit in the empty boats on the shore, and they would talk and sometimes hold hands or even kiss. They didn’t let the fact that they were cousins stop them from fooling around. They played bus driver and lost girl, except it was with one of the empty row boats. Kale was the driver and Chance was the lost girl. He would have to let her kiss him if she wanted him to take her home.

Kale’s first two classes were spent with everyone talking about how excited they were for the Aquaball game. It was great, because the teachers ended up forgetting all about the note-taking and text book readings.

As soon as Kale made it to third period—psychology—the teacher announced a pop quiz. This was a big problem, since Kale hadn’t understood a word of his homework in four weeks (though he stopped trying after week one) and the teacher was always threatening to phone in failing grades to parents.

Kale’s grades were awesome, but that wasn’t because he actually bothered to take the time out of his busy schedule to do his homework or get a tutor. His straight A-average could be summarized in two words: Lael Kipling.

Kale and his younger brother were both born during the first month of the Cascadian year, which was also springtime; it was the month of Abadius on the 18th day. They were exactly one year apart. Lael had skipped grade six, so because Lael was regarded as a genius, and Kale was a show-off and an achiever (albeit a lazy one), they were in all the same classes.

While Kale was a flourishing extrovert, Lael was quite possibly the biggest introvert on the island. He spent most of his time in his room, in the dark, either listening to static on the radio or ambient music. He only went outside for school. He never slept—his being an insomniac had been long accepted by everyone in the house by now. Kale remembered going into Lael’s room one night, only to find Lael sitting up in his desk chair, sleeping with his eyes wide-open. He never forgot it.

There were three questions on the quiz, and Kale didn’t know enough to fake an answer to a single one. In the desk directly in front of him, Lael hadn’t said a word to him all morning and was doubled over his paper, the pink tip of his tongue just poking out between his teeth. He always did that when he was thinking.

Kale peeked over and copied down two of his answers—he was good at being subtle about it—when the teacher called out, Two Minutes!

It looked like Lael had finished and was checking his work, but his back was hunched forward (as always) and Kale couldn’t see the third answer. Kale watched the second-hand tick its way around the clock—One minute! the teacher boomed—and Kale leaned over, poking Lael with his pen. He looked up, briefly startled. Kale saw a look pass over Lael’s insipid face that he couldn’t quite identify. He ignored it.

Eraser, Kale mouthed to him.

Oh hell, Lael muttered disdainfully, and turned back to his work.

Kale made a face at the reply, and started lightly gliding his pencil around in circles on the back of Lael’s neck—Lael’s most ticklish spot—relentlessly and unceasingly, but Lael was stifling his giggles and endured it for at least twenty seconds. Kale almost felt like reaching out and shaking him, shouting ‘Help a brother