The Works of Julius St. Clair (Novel Samplers)
Page 15
An Excerpt From
The Champion Collection
He would never forget his father’s words, for they were a prophecy of his life. A steel road that became invincible to his touch. With all his power and all his strength, he could never change the future. It somehow escaped his grasp and flew away with a speed he could not match, and hardened itself with an invisible shell that he could not see or break. No, he could not forget his father’s words, and all that were present when he said it would make sure of this. Whether it was a blessing, or a curse, no one could say.
But how could they?
He was the one that had to live it.
“My son,” his father declared in adoration. “You will be the champion of our people. A shining star in the blackest of night. You are destined for a path that we cannot follow for we are forged of dust and fragility. You alone, must travel on, paving the way for our bright future. Some will see your emergence into glory. Others will have long fallen by the wayside as they follow the trail you have blazed…but all…all my son, will worship you as a god!”
The words rang through his head like an earthquake as a fist the size of a sledgehammer connected to his jaw.
A god, father? Connor had but a second to consider as he fell from the sky. No, a god would not be able to feel this much.
His body slammed into the roof of the North Street Middle School as he was barely able to open an eye. HE’S STILL COMING! Connor’s mind raced, as he was barely aware of the outline his fall had left into the exterior. Connor balled up his fists in rage and forced himself to rocket skyward, ignoring the unfamiliar ache in his jawline. His dark, fine hair blew into his face for a moment, but it didn’t matter. He was sure that the enemy could still see his eyes. An icy, stone cold blue that had lost all of its warmth, all of its compassion, and all of its mercy. The enemy was surprised to see his foe get up so soon, and he was simply unprepared for this missile in a man’s body.
Connor reached out both forearms with the rigidity of unbreakable steel and pushed his way as hard as he could into the enemy’s stomach. With a startled cry, the enemy took flight as well, riding on the powerful hands of a foe he had thought was beaten. Where did his strength come? How could he have the will to fight on?
Connor tried to suppress the sudden tug of humanity that pulled on his shirt sleeve, reminding him that no matter how hard this enemy had fought him, he was still just a man. He was still of flesh and blood and could be killed no less than any of the pedestrians that looked on from below.
But wasn’t he a man too? Did he not feel pain? Did he not feel rage? Would this unknown enemy have ever given him the same courtesy?
“You think too much,” his enemy muttered as he somehow rolled off of his fists. Connor let his jaw slack and he closed his eyes, knowing what to expect. A blow came to his head, on the right side of his temple. Another followed to the left, then the right. Then the left again. Connor was dazed, and the man was laughing, and the people were gasping, and all he could think about, for some odd reason, was that he had left Jess’ homemade pancakes for this. And she had bought the organic maple syrup too. None of that fake stuff. This was the real deal - the kind that cost ten dollars and didn’t soak into the pancakes right away…he could be sitting at the dining room table, enjoying the company of his wife, and his son …but he had to go.
She had told him not to...
And he agreed with her.
But she didn’t have to live with this power.
Sometimes it was a blessing. Especially when she forgot to pick up the popcorn at the old video store ten miles from the house and he could retrieve it within two minutes, the clerk at the register being the one thing to slow down his mission.
But today…today it was a curse. A god forsaken curse.
A god…Connor thought - a thought so distorted and weak that it was if it barely emerged at all. Gods don’t die…they just…
And for the first time against his will, Connor blacked out…