by M. J. Sewall
Zacke opened his eyes. “What’s the point? I don’t see anything. My eyes actually hurt from being shut so long.”
“I know it’s hard,” said John. He hoped the fatigue didn’t show in his voice. “But I can’t help anyone until your talents get stronger. We are outmatched right now. But together…”
Katie smelled something strange. “Cody! Give me that soda.” Katie grabbed the can. “This is beer! Did you dump out a soda and put beer in this? What’s wrong with you?”
Cody laughed, “You’re so uptight.”
Ariana said, “Guys, come on. Let’s listen to John.”
“We have to do this,” said Lucas.
“Not sober,” remarked Cody.
John’s face registered anger, but quickly changed, like he’d heard a strange sound. He saw Cody had noticed, and quickly stripped his face of any emotion.
Cody looked back with suspicion. John. You are hiding something, aren’t you? he thought.
Zacke asked, “John, you okay?”
“I’m fine. Let’s take a break. I need to excuse myself for a moment.” John walked off.
“Our moody Jedi Master,” said Cody.
“I’m going for a walk,” said Zacke.
“I’ll go with you,” said Ariana, jumping up.
Lucas watched them walk off. He felt an unexpected pang. He shook it off. I’m sure it’s just a walk.
Katie said, “You’re acting like a dumb jock right now, Cody. Let’s not fall into stereotypes.” She dug in her bag and brought out a compact.
Cody replied, “Like the girl that puts on make-up at the beach?”
“Shut up. It’s a something I do when I’m frustrated. It calms me.” Katie angled the compact mirror. It reflected light from the fire into Cody’s face.
“Sorry,” she said.
Cody lunged for it, but it was too late. The old man’s face filled the mirror.
“Oh my god!” Katie exclaimed as she saw the face. She threw the mirror to the sand. The face got closer, like a camera zooming in, until it was just an eye.
Cody, Katie, and Lucas jumped to their feet. The mirror started to bow outward, to take the shape of the eye. The pale blue pupil looked around wildly. Lucas stomped onto the mirror and it cracked in the sand.
“What the hell was that?” asked Katie.
Lucas looked around. “Where’s John? We have to tell him.”
“He went over there, by the trees. Let’s go,” said Katie. “Come on!”
Cody stared at the broken compact mirror, blood pouring from it.
***
Back in his room, Elder Zamma screamed. Blood poured from his ruined eye as he reached for his cell phone. It dropped on the floor and he yelled again as he bent down to pick it up.
He held a white handkerchief to his eye as he dialed the number, “Yes it’s me! I know where they are. The beach. Which beach? There are rusty shipwrecks just out to sea. I don’t know. Idiot, Google it! Hurry!”
***
At a small group of trees, John let the news sink in, “Poor Pete. Did they get all the books?”
David said, “I don’t know. They got some.”
John reasoned, “If any books burned, it should take years for that knowledge to make its way back through The River and into our consciousness. Maybe a generation before the knowledge is put down on paper again.”
“How far along are they?” asked David, “Anybody activated yet?”
“No. Cody and Zacke are stubborn.” John sighed. “May take some time. Zacke is closed, like he doesn’t want to be here. Ariana is special somehow, but I can’t put my finger on why. Lucas and Katie are partially activated, but their talents and memories come and go.”
Thick clouds were gathering overhead, making it darker. The only light came from the small light pole, next to the two portable toilets. David looked uneasily at the sky.
“You seem nervous, David. What are you not telling me?”
David looked around. “It’s about…”
Katie and Lucas had made it up over the small dune, almost to John.
Cody followed behind the other two, slowed by the buzz in his head. “See? John’s right there. I really have to pee,” said Cody as he came around the other two.
“Everyone. Go back to the beach,” said John.
Cody said, “Who’s this?”
David turned his face away.
“Who is that, John?” asked Cody, his tone getting harder.
David came back into the solitary light on the pole, and faced Cody, “Hello Cody.”
Cody looked closer. The last picture of his father was more than a decade old. The long hair confused him at first, then he saw it. “Dad?” It sounded like a child’s voice. Then his voice sharpened. He shouted, “Dad! What the hell are you doing here?”
Higher up the rise, Ehrhardt walked toward them, gun drawn. “What is this, now?”
Lucas froze, unsure what to do. “John?”
Cody faced his father, then turned to John. “You knew! You knew all this time! Is this some sort of trick to get me to help you? It won’t work. I hate him!”
Derek, walking just behind Ehrhardt, grasped the situation. He held his amazement at the new revelation, and tried to turn it against them instead, “Ooh. Such Fire. I like that. You should be angry, Cody. I told you this man has been lying to you. He knew your father was alive, was close by, and he kept that from you.”
“You’re the liar,” John drew his sword, “Cody, go get the others. Now!”
Cody yelled back, “I’m not doing anything you say, liar. When were you going to tell me?”
“I didn’t know, Cody,” John said, “He didn’t tell me. David ran away when we picked you up that first day. I didn’t know why until this moment.”
“Of course he did,” Cody spat, “That’s what he does. He leaves people, like my mom and me, all alone in a Tarzana dump!”
David looked down, the pain etched onto his face. “I’m sorry Cody. It was wrong…”
“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it,” said Cody.
Derek said, “That’s not the only thing he’s lied to you about, Cody.”
“Be quiet Sazzo,” warned John, “Or I won’t make your truth death quite so quick.”
“I suspected it, but my elder wasn’t sure. Why are you alone, Pentoss or John, or whatever your damn name is this time? Because you’re the last one, aren’t you?”
Katie asked, “What? What do you mean?”
Lucas shouted, “That’s not true!”
“Don’t listen to him,” said John.
Derek continued stoking the growing dissent. “I told you, he lies. His side has lost, he’s all alone. That’s why he needs you.”
A shot of lightning came from the clouds and incinerated the sand next to Derek. He flew into the air, back into the group of trees.
“Did one of us do that?” asked Katie.
Before anyone could answer, Ehrhardt lunged at David and smashed the butt of his gun onto David’s forehead. He went down to the sand, unconscious.
Ehrhardt gripped the handle again and wheeled around for a shot at John. John was too quick for him, his blade jabbed under the trigger guard. John yanked the gun free, cutting Ehrhardt’s finger nearly to the bone. A chunk of skin, along with the gun, went flipping behind Lucas to the sand. Ehrhardt yowled in pain.
“Holy crap, you are fast,” Derek said, wobbling as he tried to find his feet. “Who did the lightning thing? I did not see that coming. Are you okay, brother?”
“No! Are you?” Ehrhardt said, wrapping his finger in a cloth from his pocket.
John had his sword raised. Lucas was in a fighting posture. He didn’t feel his ancient, relying on his Kenpo training instead. John and Lucas made a rough circle around the brothers. Derek whispered his enchantment softly. “Kralj sato galak…”
Lucas took a step toward Derek, “He’s saying a spell!”
Derek said, “Hey! Don’t interrupt me. Spell? Let’s be acc
urate. What I do is conjuring….”
John cut Derek off, “Run for the beach. We’re stronger in numbers.”
“Hey! I was talking…” Derek protested.
“I can take him here!” said Lucas, but he still didn’t feel his ancient. His confidence wavered.
“John’s right. Run for the beach.” Katie sprinted downhill toward the sea.
Cody was still furious. He glanced at his father on the sand. He ran for the beach. Now, they were all running to join Ariana and Zacke.
“Wait!” called Derek. “It’s no fun unless I set it up first!”
Ehrhardt walked to his brother, still holding his hand. “I have the charm for the Witness. I will chain him in the car. Can you handle this? Do you have a plan?”
“Yes!” said Derek dramatically, “I’m finally going to conjure… the T-Rex.”
Ehrhardt shook his head. “This again, brother? I’m sorry, but that’s just dumb.” He gestured with his arms, mimicking the dinosaur’s biggest flaw. “The T-rex has tiny little front arms.”
“And huge scary teeth!” insisted Derek.
“You missed your chance, little brother. People aren’t scared of dinosaurs anymore. Think of something else. Big enough to take care of them all at once, perhaps?” Ehrhardt put the charm around David’s neck. He hefting the unconscious man over his shoulder. “Go take care of them. I’ll meet you at the car.”
Derek sighed as Ehrhardt walked off with David. Derek walked down to the beach, muttering to himself, “I think dinosaurs are scary.” He looked to the ocean, over the multiple rusting hulks that used to be ships. They gave him an idea. “Hmmm. Through adversity, comes innovation. Something cooler than a dinosaur. Let me think, this one could be interesting.”
As Derek walked, he stared out into the water and thought of the proper conjuring spell. The most powerful words. Derek spoke fourteen languages. Words of power were different in each language. He had to get this just right. He whispered it slowly to himself, over and over; “Urod calamar teuthida, Urod calamar teuthida, Urod calamar teuthida.”
The beach was dark, but he knew the rest of them were there. Derek announced, “Hello all! You know that thing that bad guys do in movies? Where they talk, and talk about their plans, or grandstand and you’re not quite sure where it’s going? I always thought that would be a great trick to use. Well, at least, to stall for time.”
They all looked around, but nothing happened. They glanced at the ocean, the moon peeked from behind the clouds, now lighting a small swath of the beach.
Nothing. Silence.
Derek continued, “I’d been saving a very special conjuring for just such a night. Just curious, when you think scary, do you think of Dinosau… oh, never mind. This will be better.”
Zacke and Ariana were close to the water, the others halfway between Derek and the lapping waves. The dying fire backlit Derek. As they scanned behind Derek, something caught Zacke by the leg and pulled. Zacke fell flat, and was yanked into the water. Ariana grabbed for him, but he was underwater in seconds. She screamed, “Zacke!”
The clouds parted briefly, so she used the glimpse of moonlight and scanned wildly for him. Then a giant tentacle lifted from the water. They all spotted Zacke struggling to get free. The tentacle suckers moved and writhed around his tall frame.
John and Lucas rushed toward the water.
“Is that a giant octopus?” Katie yelled.
“Giant squid,” said John. “Katie? Can you put a shield around Zacke?”
Katie just stared. “I don’t think so. He’s… he’s too far away. It’s moving too fast.”
John looked at his sword, furiously trying to form a plan. Before he could think of who’s talent could best help Zacke, the other tentacle wrapped around John’s chest, and squeezed. John felt white hot pain as his recent wound flared up. He dropped his sword and was lifted off the sand. Pulled to sea, they all watched the giant shape take John. The squid’s elongated head rose over the outline of the rusty wrecks.
Lucas had no idea how to help. His eyes darted back to Zacke, still airborne in another tentacle. Lucas felt ocean spray hit his face as one of the eight arms reached out of the water. He ducked just in time, landing next to John’s sword. Lucas fumbled for it as the creature changed its mind, and went for Katie.
Everyone on the small beach watched as the giant squid rose higher. It kept rising until it’s elongated head rose a dozen feet above the water, it’s eyes the size of dinner plates, illuminated in the small sliver of moonlight.
The beast was massive. The old wrecks looked like toy boats compared to the monster. Lucas remembered a nature program, the massive beak made for chopping its prey, the tongue-like radula lined with teeth, even more razor-sharp teeth that lined its cheeks. If Zacke of John came close to its mouth, they were dinner.
The two tentacles whipped around, smashing the rusting hulls just off shore. The creature used the multiple legs to push closer to the beach. The ancient wrecks gave way before it, with a shrieking of rusty metal.
Katie tripped as a leg reached for her, and was sprayed with a hot blue liquid as Lucas cut into the appendage. Katie screamed, as the wounded arm receded into the ocean. Zacke landed hard just feet from them. Ariana rushed to help Katie up.
“What happened?” Lucas got Zacke to his feet.
“I don’t know. It let me go. Where’s John?” asked Zacke.
Ariana pointed out to the water. The tentacle that held John was getting closer to the huge head. The main body was rising higher out of the water. Lucas wondered how enormous the quid’s teeth must be, since that’s where John was now headed. They had to act quick.
Zacke looked around frantically. The girls were near each other on one side of him, on the other, Cody stood like a statue. He looked back and forth from Derek to the squid, like a man in a trance.
“Cody! Help us!” shouted Zacke, and Cody seemed to just notice them, like he was coming out of a dream.
Cody’s head was buzzing from the beer he’d been sneaking, vaguely hoping this was all a dream. His father. The monster in the ocean. “What… what can I do?” he said in a whisper. He looked back for his father, but he and the German were gone.
Zacke saw the look in Cody’s eyes, and how he was standing, “You’re drunk!” Zacke looked away in disgust. He focused on John.
Lucas said, “Katie, can you push a shield at it?”
“It’s too far,” she yelled, as they saw John struggling with the tentacle, almost to the creature’s mouth.
Zacke said, “Ariana, freeze it.”
Ariana shook her head. “It’s too big.”
Zacke looked into her eyes. “You can do it.”
She wasn’t convinced, but Ariana faced the beast and concentrated, holding out her hands.
Lucas still held John’s sword, absently. “What now?”
“I have an idea. Be ready,” said Zacke.
The beast was getting closer, the legs spraying ocean mist at them. It startled Ariana, but she tried harder. Then, it froze. Like pausing a movie, the creature froze. John, silhouetted by moonlight, was also frozen in the air. Even the water droplets around the massive beast were suspended.
Zacke closed his eyes, sighed, then opened them again. I have to do this, he thought. He grabbed Lucas.
Lucas felt himself lifting off his feet. “What the…”
Zacke lifted Lucas like he was an infant. He said, “Brace yourself, and hold on to that sword!”
Zacke flung Lucas as hard as he could. Lucas was airborne, John’s sword straight in front of him. It felt like flying, but Lucas couldn’t enjoy the moment. He concentrated on helping John. Lucas aimed the sword straight and held tight.
Cody stared. Up the beach, Derek’s mouth dropped open.
As Lucas flew straight for the creature’s huge elongated head, Katie stared at Zacke.
Zacke wouldn’t make eye contact, “What? I said I could lift heavy stuff, sometimes.”
Lucas held the s
word as straight as he could in front of him. John was still suspended in mid-air, and the creature was just coming out of Ariana’s freeze when Lucas cut deep into the squid. Unfrozen now, it began to flail and John fell to the water, the tentacle vanishing.
The rest of the beast winked out of existence. A dozen feet in the air, Lucas plunged into the water. He barely held onto the sword, and gasped for breath as he searched for John. He remembered the undertow that could sweep them out to the deep waters.
His adrenaline was still going, as he spotted John a few feet away. John was headed straight for him. They swam for each other, narrowly avoiding rusted bits of old battleship just under the water. He kept a tight grip on the sword as he swam for John.
“I’m here,” said John as they found each other. They held onto each other tight. John took the sword, and sheathed it. They headed for the shore.
On the beach, Derek felt his legs give way, and nearly fell over. “I think that’s enough for one night.” he said to himself.
Cody shook off the beer buzz. The crazy night was filled with monsters and all he could think about was his dad. A flush of anger accompanied the thought, but another feeling surfaced.
He looked back to Zacke, Ariana, Katie and the moonlit sea beyond, noticing how apart from them he felt. They were looking out to sea, trying to gauge how close Lucas and John were to the shore. He glanced back to the receding Derek, then ran after him.
Derek looked weak. He did not seem surprised that Cody was next to him.
Cody asked, “Can you teach me how to do that?” Indicating the beach, and the place the monster had been.
Derek raised his eyebrows. “I can try.”
“What will you do to him?”
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
Derek shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
“You don’t understand.” said Cody, “I want to help.”
Derek stopped. He looked back to the ocean. No one on the beach seemed to notice Cody was gone. Derek silently offered his hand.
Cody took it, and helped Derek to the waiting car. He got in the back seat with his father, still passed out. David was chained, and had a strange necklace around his neck. The Rageto apparently had their newest recruit.
