by M. J. Sewall
John yelled, “Run! Get out! We’ll hold them off.”
“I… I want to fight,” shouted Katie, but she sounded less confident, like her ancient warrior had faded.
John said, “No Katie. Lead the others back to the truck, now!”
The room was half covered; floor, ceiling and walls. Katie, Zacke, Cody and Ariana dashed for the open door. They all ducked away from several spiders trying to web down to cut off their escape.
Katie pushed a shield in front of her and made an opening through the spider horde. They ran out the door, into the night. Derek directed half of the army out the door, toward the escaping teens.
John was busy sweeping his sword furiously, slicing spiders, cutting webs, making sure they didn’t fall on his bare skin.
Lucas saw half the black mass leave the room, after his new friends. He ran for one of the heavy wood benches along the wall. He leapt on the arm and heard the crack. Two heavy wood clubs were now his to wield.
Ehrhardt casually walked to his gun. Everywhere the brothers moved, the spiders opened a path, like parting water. Lucas was swinging wildly with both clubs, cutting webs. Hundreds of spiders smashed against the wood, or flung like eight-legged baseballs against walls, as wet sounds accompanied each swing. Splat. Paff. Splat.
Ehrhardt aimed for Lucas and fired. The boy moved just in time. Lucas flipped over the speeding bullet. As he landed, he used the momentum and let one of his clubs fly. It flipped the length of the room and smashed Ehrhardt’s gun hand.
The gun flew, sliding across the floor. A line of spiders skittered with it on the floor like eight-legged bowling pins, many crushed. Soon, the floor was all spiders again.
John yelled, “We should only have to fight for a few more minutes. Derek’s talents are limited!”
“Don’t give away all of my secrets,” Derek said as he directed the last of the swarm at Lucas.
Ehrhardt got to his feet, and fled the room with Derek close behind him. John picked up the gun and he and Lucas fled the room. The spiders followed.
Outside, the mission was pitch black. Ariana led them, with Katie bringing up the rear. The ground was uneven, filled with gopher holes. Zacke tripped. Cody fell over him and Ariana turned back to help. Zacke tried to stand, “My ankle. I think it’s sprained.”
Katie stopped and turned her back to them. The feeling of being Katie and her ancient warrior self kept flashing back and forth. One second she was scared, the other she had the urge to fight. She stood her ground by Zacke and the others.
They all heard the two men approaching, “There’s no place to go, Katie!” called Derek.
She was Katie just then; scared and out of breath. Ariana said, “Katie you have to make a shield.” Cody yelled as he smashed a spider on the ground with his foot.
“I can’t!” Katie yelled, but as the men drew closer, she felt her last reserve of strength swell. She blinked in the darkness and was sure the ground was moving toward them, on thousands of deadly little legs.
Her ancient warrior filled her again and she closed her eyes. Zacke was holding his ankle, looking around for spiders. Ariana saw the dome all around them. It radiated from her, a green glow in the night. Spiders tried to climb up the dome from the ground.
“What’s happening?” Cody said.
“A really strong shield,” answered Ariana. She looked around in a circle. The spiders were trying to climb up the green dome around them. The arachnids climbed over each other, their undersides and legs a strange green hue through the shield. Cody saw it too. To Zacke, it looked like they were crawling up a dome of invisible glass.
Then Ariana saw a new blue layer had radiated from Katie. It was a layering of colors, like a rainbow and went from green, to blue, then a sharp yellow layer added under that. The spiders began to fade.
Derek and Ehrhardt stopped at a tree, only a few feet away. Ehrhardt remarked, “Could she do that last time?”
Derek shook his head in wonder. “No.”
“It would be advisable to fight another day,” said Ehrhardt, “The girl is stronger than we thought.”
By this time, Katie’s eyes were open, and her ancient glared out at the brothers. Even in the dark, across the field, Derek felt a chill. “You are right, brother. But maybe this whole thing will end up being more fun than I thought.”
Standing next to a tree, some bark splintered, the wood striking Derek’s cheek. He spun around to see Lucas and John running toward them. John was firing Ehrhardt’s gun. They ducked behind the tree, then Derek and Ehrhardt disappeared into the night.
The spiders had faded, like they hadn’t been there at all. Katie’s shield faltered, and she was just Katie again. She collapsed next to Zacke.
Katie muttered, “So tired.”
Cody rubbed his arms furiously, looking all around for more spiders.
Lucas and John ran to them, “Is everyone alright?”
Katie looked around, sobs threatening. “So tired,” she moaned.
“I know. Using so much of your talent can be exhausting,” said John, “Let’s get you home. The brothers have fled.”
Ariana went to Katie and hugged her, helped her up. “It’s okay. You saved us.”
John said, “You met them before I had a chance to talk to you. They tried to twist the narrative. But you know who they are now, don’t you Katie?”
Katie looked the direction the brothers had fled. “I don’t like being lied to.”
Cody kept rubbing his arms, sure he was covered in spiders. “Where’d they all go?”
John said, “Sazzo can conjure horrifying things. But it only lasts for a short time. With magic, the power of your will and concentration is key. It’s hard to keep control of monsters for very long, even little ones. He tires, and the creatures fade. But, make no mistake. When they’re here, they are real and very dangerous. He has a very dark imagination.”
“Sure does. I hate spiders!” said Cody, shivering, rubbing his arms, still not convinced they were spider free.
“I’ll take you home. You’d better call your parents. I won’t tell you to lie to anyone. But you must be careful with the truth. Things are happening very quickly now.”
“I might need some help.” said Zacke. Cody and Lucas helped him to his feet. They all made their way back to the truck, using Ariana as their guide.
John said, “We must find another secluded spot, to continue activating you.”
“What?” Cody said, “You’ve nearly gotten us killed twice. I want to understand what’s going on. But this…”
Ariana said, “That’s not fair. John is the good guy here.”
“How do we know? Yeah, those other guys are crazy, but we only have John’s word.” Cody said, “Sorry, but I have a life. I want to get back to it, not have some crazy magic guy end me.”
“I told you life’s not fair.” said John.
“You also said we have a choice,” Cody shot back, “I choose no. I’ll just deny my warrior, or whatever.”
“The brothers aren’t going to stop because you ask them nicely.” John said, “There will be a choice to make later. Your fate will be your own. But right now, we must stick together.”
Cody said, “No! I’m not going anywhere with you people. I’m done!”
They were nearly to the truck. Ariana said, “Look, Cody. We’re all scared. But we have to stick together.”
“Why?” Cody asked, “Because he said?”
“We have to trust someone. If you’d seen my warrior’s memories…” said Lucas.
Cody shouted, “I don’t want to see, or know, any of it! I just want to be normal.”
“Well, you’re not normal!” John shouted back. It was the first time John raised his voice, and they all stopped. “I’m sorry Cody. We are in real danger. This is your team now. You have two choices, fight them or die.”
Cody stopped arguing. They all felt a chill from the stark assessment.
John’s tone softened, “I’ll take you home. We all
need the rest.”
Zacke and Cody got into the bed of the truck. Katie sat with Ariana and Lucas in the cab.
They were each dropped off near their homes. Doubts swam through their minds. They hoped that John was right about their homes being safe.
CHAPTER TWENTY - HOME
Ten minutes after Katie got home, she saw the headlights hit the front windows. She ran out the door. Her mom and stepdad got out of the car. Jason opened the back door and Megan got out.
“You’re home!” Katie shouted and ran for Megan.
She hugged Megan as hard as she could, hoping her parents wouldn’t see her tears. Her mom had planned to ask Katie why she hadn’t been by the hospital that day, but she ended up just wrapping her arms around the two girls instead. Katie looked up at her stepdad Jason and motioned for him to come over. They ended in a real family hug on the driveway.
***
Zacke got home to a dark house. He limped on his ankle, checked his brother’s room. It was a mess like always, but no one there. He looked in the fridge; hardly any food, of course. He made a peanut butter sandwich and looked through to the living room. His dad was there, lying back in his reclining chair. He could only see a few empty cans on the table.
He knew there would be more on the other side of the chair. He helped his father to bed, who at least made a sound of recognition before he was snoring in his own room.
Another night alone, he looked at the cell phone he’d ignored all day. Zacke laid in bed texting back and forth with Victoria while he messaged his ankle.
***
Lucas went through the garage door entrance into his converted room. There was a knock at the door. His mom and dad stood there, “Can we come in?”
“Sure. What’s up?” Lucas asked. His parents hovered nervously.
“You know we don’t want to bring up the past, honey. But you’ve been acting strangely. Never home, always tense when you are.”
Lucas smiled. “Mom. Dad. I’m okay. I’ve met some new friends, actually. I think… I think I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for.”
***
Ariana’s mother stood at the front door, and wouldn’t let her come into the house, “Ah, mija. You don’t call your mother? A text to your brother is not the same as calling me.”
“Mami, I’m so sorry I worried you. There was a whole group of us. I was showing them the secret parts of the mission. Ranger Doug was around. We were safe.” Ariana hated lying to her mom, even a little.
It took nearly a half an hour to calm her mother down. Ariana had missed dinner, but she joined her parents and brother on the couch with a slice of leftover pizza. She often felt surrounded by family, almost trapped. That night, it felt good to be close to family after the crazy day. She shook off the bad parts of the night and smiled as she took a bite. After all they’d been through in just a few days, she felt silly thinking about a boy.
***
Cody’s mom wasn’t home. He texted her, let her know that he’d made it home safe. John said they would be safe at home. But he made sure all the windows and doors were locked, made a full sweep of the house. It was his job.
He was the man of the house, and with mom working two jobs, and him always at practice, Cody always double checked. They couldn’t afford a break in. He paused at the thought. There were much worst things to think about nowadays. He brushed his hand through his hair, imagining spider legs.
His mother’s room had mirrored closet doors, so he checked the window lock quickly, and then shut the door, not daring to look at the mirrors.
Cody went to the small fridge in his closet, chugged the first beer, then got a second. He locked the bathroom door and took a shower. The bathroom mirror was built in, so he covered it with a spare towel. He looked very carefully for spiders. He checked the ceiling, behind the toilet. After he was satisfied, he soaped up thinking about the last few nights. What a horrible power, able to conjure spiders.
He shuddered and opened his eyed before he shampooed. Still safe from the eight legged creatures.
Compared to Katie, what use were his “talents?” Getting a random thought here and there. Sometimes starting old cars, more often frying whatever electronic device he tried to use. And the mirror thing. His mother had quietly removed most of the mirrors from the house. They never spoke of it. She just seemed to know. Cody had never seen anything bad in the mirror until now.
The few times it had happened before, he just saw a different place in the mirror: a meadow, a snowy mountain. Once he looked and saw the forest as a deer walked by. They had always seemed real, but pleasant; nothing like this old man.
He turned off the water, reaching for the perspiring beer can. Cody took two swallows. He belched, smiled at how loud it was. He’d make sure to wash out both cans and hide them in his small trash can. His mom had enough to worry about, and it was just a few beers. If she knew how much some of my teammates drank…
He had no idea what the old man meant, or who he was. But the feeling was getting stronger that he couldn’t trust John. He tried to study the coach’s playbook, but soon fell asleep. Happily, he did not dream of spiders.
***
John went to the station. Pete changed his dressing. “Yep, you opened up your stitches. Did you say spiders?”
“Wow, that hurts,” John said, clenching his teeth, “Yes, spiders. It’s a wonder no one was hurt. Now I must convince them to get together again. They’re scared. I fear every day will be a battle now.”
Pete put on the new bandages, “How are you going to do that? If I was them I’d take my chances in the jungle of high school nonsense. It’s safer.”
“Even if they decide to ignore their talents, bury them, they will still be hunted,” said John.
“True. Speaking of that, you could just tell them the truth. They might rally to your cause faster.”
John said, “That’s too dangerous. Some of them may turn to the Rageto if they knew the truth.”
Pete finished his work on John. “Again, I’m mister neutrality here, but take my advice; tell them before they find out, and think you a liar. Oh, and you can’t stay here anymore.”
John said, “Hmm. I guess I should have seen that coming. You’ve done too much already.”
“Damn right.”
John said, “I’ll get a hotel room. With David out of the picture, there’s no way for them to find me easily. It will feel good to get a night’s sleep with no one trying to kill me.”
“You sure your real talent isn’t attracting trouble?” Pete smiled. “Take care. Our book problem will be solved tomorrow.”
“The books leave for the next station?”
“Yes. Because the brothers are here, the sooner the books leave, the better. Imagine if you had a fully charged elder to deal with here, now, with this knowledge at their fingertips.”
“Keep them safe, my friend. I’ll see you again.” John said, “If I fail, I’ll see you the next time around.”
“Don’t be so fatalistic,” Pete said, “You know what? Damn the Sect’s neutrality. I want your side to win. Besides, I’m just an old man. I’m getting sick of having to learn who you guys are all over again.”
John left for a good night’s sleep. He walked to the nearest hotel. He couldn’t tell these scared teenagers how small a chance they actually had.
***
At the station, Pete went to his small bedroom. He announced, “He’s gone.”
“Do you think he knew I was here?” asked David.
“No one knows you’re here. And you’re leaving tomorrow with the station crew, so no one ever will.”
“Good.” said David.
Pete stood silent, rubbing his chin and looked at the floor.
“You think I’m a coward?” asked David.
“What about your son?”
David closed his eyes. Tears appeared when he opened them again. “I want to run to him. I want to hold him tight. My son…”
“Then go to him
. Explain everything.”
“What do I tell him? What would I tell my wife? That my cowardice made me leave?” David shook off his tears, deciding he was unworthy of them. “I told myself they were safer without me. The truth is, I left because I was afraid she would reject me when she found out what I was.”
“You got this all wrong, David,” said Pete, “You told me you turned back, were going to choose your family when the brothers took you. Tell him that, make them understand. You were taken prisoner. He can’t blame you for that.”
“I blame me for that.” David was quiet for a moment. Pete could see the bleakness struggling within him. “I left them. That’s unforgivable. Even if they could forgive me, I can’t.”
Pete repeated, “They took you prisoner.”
“Yes! And they broke me!” David shouted, immediately realizing he was shouting at the wrong person. “I’m sorry, Pete. Thank you. I know you’re only trying to help. But I don’t deserve to have them back. The brothers broke me. I’m no good to anyone now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE BEACH
Lucas, Ariana, Zacke and Katie stood on the porch, waiting.
“Why didn’t John come himself?” asked Cody, standing at his own front door.
“Ok, rude,” Katie asked, “can we come in?”
Cody stood aside, “Yeah, but make it fast. My mom will be home soon.”
“Afraid to have us freaks in your place?” asked Zacke.
“Well, some of you seem alright.” Cody smiled.
“Okay, jerk. Thanks, I think,” said Katie.
“No. Sorry,” Cody searched for the right words. “I meant what you did last night was awesome. Scary, but awesome. I can’t do anything like that. And you, Lucas, dude, you’re like a skinny ninja. I can only, like, fry cell phones and break mirrors.”
Zacke asked, “Break mirrors? Like with your mind?”
“No. Forget it. My point is, I don’t fit. I’m not a superhero,” said Cody.
