The Dark Expanse - Astral Clash Series - Book 1

by Jack Hammond

  The snow fell heavily again, the sky white as if it was filled to bursting with the bad weather. The traffic slowed again on the main road outside the supermarket. The car heater pumped out warmth, Max happily sat in his T-shirt, avidly flicking through the pages of his book. His attention far removed from the world outside of the Volkswagen polo’s shell. A message received tone beeped, pulling Max from the espionage thriller and back to reality. He looked at the screen; it was a one word question. ‘Ready?’ From a number he did not recognise, he knew who it was and Max replied. ‘Yes.’

  Max trudged through the snow and entered Titchfield Road just before six. His warm brown coat was doing more than just protecting him from the elements. The street lighting only ran down the right hand side, the cars were parked on the left. They were all masked in shadow from the tall steel fence, which ran along the perimeter of the industrial complex the street was adjacent to. At least ten feet high, Max wasn’t able to climb it, but he was happy to use the dark cover it provided. The majority of houses had already closed their curtains, to block out the seasonal cold. A few houses had festive trimmings, the colourful lights of Santa, Rudolf and snowmen that flashed brightly into the night.

  The voyager was only a few car lengths away, Max unzipped his coat and took out the bottle of Smirnoff vodka. The rag in his pocket was part of a cheap T-shirt he had brought along with the vodka and his book. As he knelt down behind the car, he grasped his necklace. He imagined the young boy walking to the window on the second floor of the house. Max sensed the luring call moving across the road and into the house as he focused.

  His concentration was broken, by the vibration in his pocket from his mobile buzzing. He realised it wasn’t a message, it was a call, answering it quickly he began, “Yes?”

  “They are coming for you, be prepared!”

  Martin rolled up at the side of Hucknall high street, it wasn’t that late and shoppers were still making their way in and out of the stores. The green Polo had pulled up a hundred yards ahead of him. Max had exited the vehicle and headed across the street into Titchfield Road. Martin waited a moment, before continuing his pursuit. He stood at the top of street, leaning against the wall he looked around the corner and saw Max duck down behind a Ford Voyager.

  He narrowed his eyes and looked carefully making sure his target would not slip away. His mobile rang in his pocket, without looking he took it out and answered it.

  “What?” he said.

  “Martin, you have to stop him!” Edward said, panic evident in his tone.

  “What?”

  “The Associates have contacted me, they told me whatever Max is doing, you have to stop him,” Edward rushed through his words quickly. “They don’t care how, just stop him!” Edward paused, reluctantly adding, “Kill him if you have to.”

  Martin smiled, “Done!” he replied hanging up.

  Fiddling in his pocket Martin arranged some loose change he had, into a stack in the palm of his hand. Clenching his fist tightly around them, he felt the rage building inside him. With his leash removed, he didn't need to listen to the voice of concern. Martin was going to hurt him, he hadn’t decided if he would kill him yet.

  He crouched down behind one of the parked cars, his attention being drawn away from Max to the huge flashing Santa Claus to his right. What possessed people to plaster gigantic illuminations on their houses? Martin wondered. He glanced back and saw Max kneeling down behind the Voyager; he wasn’t sure what he was doing. Martin made his way up the street, staying close to the cars, when he was a few vehicles away he ducked between them to check he was still there.

  Sure enough, he was knelt beside the car, unaware Martin was only a few yards away. Gripping the coins in his hand even harder, Martin sneaked out. Slowly moving through the snow, trying desperately to limit the amount of noise he made with each step. He was almost upon Max. Martin’s heart was pounding furiously in his chest. Just a little closer, he thought. Martin took his hand from his pocket when he was in striking distance. Max quickly spun around, the shock surprising Martin as he lunged at him.

  His fist swung fiercely, but Max caught him on the chin with something solid, he wasn’t sure what. Feeling his footing give way, he fell backwards landing hard on the soft snow. Before he attempted anything else, Max was on top of him. Max’s knee pressed against his chest as his hands grabbed Martin by the throat. He realised he wasn’t trying to strangle him as Max ripped the necklace from around his neck and tossed it over the huge fence beside them.

  “Get off me!” Martin shouted as he struggled to get Max off.

  Max remained silent dropping his own necklace onto Martin’s chest as he swung the vodka bottle once again, this time with more force. His head juddered as the bottle cracked against his skull, the glass shattering instantly.

  Martin’s eyes opened abruptly, he was standing in the centre of the darkness. He knew instantly this was not the usual place he visited, this was where Max had hidden. The wind swirled in the distance, everything seemed louder, more vivid. The darkness shimmered in front of him, Martin shook uncontrollably. The expanse stood before him, a vaporous like being, its outline constantly shifting, and then it spoke.

  “Martin Hampton,” the voice said.

  Martin couldn’t respond, scared that whatever this was it knew his name.

  “Martin Hampton!” the voice repeated its soulless tone striking fear into him.

  Martin swallowed hard, “Y-yes?” he stammered.

  “You have a choice.” The voice said. “I wish something of you, but you must choose it.”

  Martin eyes bulged, maybe this wasn’t the end. He was being given the choice, like Max had. “What must I choose?”

  The voice fell silent as Martin waited for an answer. “The choice is…” it paused again.

  Was it debating what to do? Martin asked himself. “What?” Martin pressed.

  “To die in this realm or there,” the voice snarled.

  A howl of wind shuddered behind Martin, “God, please, no!” he pleaded, “Don’t kill me!”

  The sound of laughter echoed through the void, the voice from within the darkness taking pleasure in Martin’s situation. “I jest.” The voice replied. “That’s not your choice,” more laughter followed.

  “It’s not?” he struggled to say.

  “No, you have no choice!” it bellowed, surging forward. The darkness engulfing Martin, his body thrashed about violently as he tried to grab hold of the shadow, grip the vapour that had swallowed him. The more he fought, the harder it became, the precious air he so desperately needed was denied, as he suffocated. Martin’s body twitched wildly as the expanse squeezed the last drops of life from him.

  The bottle broke as Max slammed it into Martin’s head, he was out cold. The necklace glimmered for a moment. Max didn't know what to expect or do next. He questioned himself as he looked around to see if anyone had seen the altercation. Everything seemed at least to be normal, looking down at Martin, he wondered if he was being given a chance, as he had been. Perhaps the expanse was building up an army; surely it would need more people. The sound of a mobile phone ringing caught his attention, reaching into Martin’s coat Max took it out and answered it. He didn’t speak, he just listened.

  “Martin. Martin, what’s going on? All hell has broken loose here!” the frantic tone was unfamiliar, the voice however was not.

  “Hello, Edward.” Max said.

  “Max, my God, what have you done?” he asked.

  That was only the second time; Edward had used his name correctly. “My assignment as always.”

  “Who’s assignment? Who are you working for?” he quizzed.

  “The same people you are,” he said simply.

  “You do not work for the Associates!” Edward snapped.

  Max had never heard him so worked up, wishing he could see him, his expression, it must be fantastic he thought, “Nor do you, Edward.”

  "What?"

  “You don’t need to play c
oy Edward, you know what I’m talking about,” Max stated.

  Martin’s body convulsed underneath Max, moving back he watched the man fighting for air. His limbs rigid, just his mouth gaping as he gasped. Max went silent for a moment and observed with a morbid curiosity, it was as if he was drowning on dry land, why couldn’t he breathe?

  “Max!” Edward shouted in his ear. “What are you talking about?”

  “The paper Edward, the paper,” he replied.

  “What paper? Who do you work for?”

  “The paper you left in my house, the night you visited me,” Max said. “The one that led me here.”

  “I did no such thing. You must stop this Max, please.”

  “I’m sorry it’s too late. I must go.” Max replied, disturbed by Edward’s replies. Maybe someone was listening in?

  “Where’s Martin?!” he continued.

  “He’s dead.” Max said plainly.

  “You killed him?”

  “No, my employer did. He saw the dark for what it is. Have you Edward? Have you seen the darkness, the real darkness of the expanse?” he didn’t wait for a reply just hung up the phone. He snatched back his necklace and shoved it into his pocket.

  Max just looked at Martin’s lifeless body, he couldn’t just leave him there, could he? Then he realized, he didn’t need to burn the car now. He clutched the necklace in his hand he called the boy again, feeling it take hold of him. Max willed him to the window, once he was certain he had lured him, he grabbed Martin’s legs and dragged him out from behind the car. Max left his body protruding for the young boy to see. Hastily moving out of sight, Max waited. Sure enough the front door of the house opened and he and his dad crossed the road to the body. Max’s job was completed. The boy would not fight in the colosseum tonight.

  The phone rang for only a few short rings, before a voice answered. “Hello?” it said, it was male and seemed rather young.

  “It’s Edward.” He replied.

  “Ah, Edward, I take it things didn’t go well?”

  “Martin Hampton’s dead,” he informed him.

  “I thought as much. Sadly, it's the least of our troubles,” the man said. “Whoever is doing this knows our moves, knows our people.”

  “Yes, it’s puzzling.”

  “Very.” The man agreed. “I am sending someone to help you.”

  “Help me?” Edward inquired.

  “Yes, it has been decided you will be part of the task force assigned with locating Max Carter.”

  “I see.” Edward replied. “Who is it you’re sending?”

  “An old friend of yours, Sarah Mather, I was informed you knew each other. She will lead the operation.”

  “Understood,” Edward said as the phone went dead. No goodbyes, that wasn’t the way. Niceties were used by only a few, most gone as youth spread through the organisation.

  Edward pressed his fingers into the bridge of his nose. They were sending Sarah Mather because it was all going wrong. Edward knew Sarah Mather very well, having trained her many years ago. She was ambitious and driven. The young girl he had taken under his wing had risen within the organisation, soared in fact, reaching heights Edward had never seen. The truth was he knew she was special when he worked with her, but she was connected. She had been moved further and faster than anyone before her or since.

  Moving into his kitchen, he took a bottle of juice from his fridge, opened it and poured himself a glass. Things would get worse. His mind returned to the call with Max, he was under the impression he had aided him in some way, he had mentioned a newspaper. He racked his brain and couldn’t think what he meant. With all that had happened someone was definitely leaking secrets, and it wasn’t him.

  Chapter Six

  The iron fist pounded against the floor, narrowly missing its target. The shock-wave however didn’t. Thrown back the cloaked figure tumbled momentarily, before regaining its footing. Darren’s manifestation thumped his chest wrathfully. His iron fisted, twenty five foot mechanical gorilla was showing his class. The clash was well underway and Darren had taken early control. His opponent was seven feet in height and wielding a sabre. The blazing weapon was unable to get near the gorilla. Every attempt thwarted by its incredible shock-wave attacks.

  The colosseum was enthralled and cheered every time Darren’s beast struck a thunderous blow. The gorilla was the lower level manifestation, but from the early exchanges it was impossible to tell. Wesley and Sadie stood at the edge of the fighter’s pit, watching Darren in the ascendancy.

  “He’s good.” Wesley exclaimed.

  “Yeah, he’s got this guy where he wants him,” Sadie said turning away from the action. “He likes to toy with them.” She added with a smile.

  “Oh, right.” Wes replied.

  A rapture of applause echoed, the cloaked manifestation managing to dodge Darren’s fists, he slashed at his torso, with a flurry of swings, his green blade flashing back and forth, each hit seemingly having no effect. The gorilla threw his attacker across the arena and puffed out his chest, Darren appeared to be laughing.

  “The guy's an idiot. How'd he make echelon five?” Sadie sneered. “What was he thinking? He must have had some easy fights.”

  Wesley was confused, “Why’s he an idiot? I don’t get it?”

  Sadie looked at Wesley. “Darren’s Mani has iron fists, if he beats them against his chest for fun, what chance does he have attacking it?”

  Wesley realised his mistake, “Of course, sorry.”

  “It’s okay you’re a nub, he’s been here a long time. He should know better,” she finished turning back to the fight.

  Wesley smiled at Sadie calling him a ‘nub’, even here internet slang was used. Nub, noob, nab all referring to a novice player, at least he wouldn’t be condemned after he lost his first fight against Alwin. Wesley suddenly realised, his opponent had not arrived, and they were due to fight next.

  “Alwin’s not here yet, Sadie,” Wes echoed a hint of concern.

  Still focused on the battle she didn’t turn away, “Plenty of time yet. Daz’s going to embarrass this noob.”

  “Why? Why embarrass him?” Wes questioned.

  “He’s a mouthy idiot, told Darren he’d make him look stupid. Daz is making him eat his words.”

  Although he didn’t agree with it, Wesley went along. “Oh, right.”

  Another shock-wave hit the cloaked fighter, this time he wasn’t quick enough to get his footing before Darren’s booming iron fists pummeled him. Each slamming fist crunched into the manifestation, slowing up, Darren had not yet finished toying with him. The gorilla snatched up the cloaked figure by the leg and tossed him across the amphitheatre. He raised his fists, and a chant erupted from within the walls of the colosseum.

  “Slam man! Slam man! Slam man!” everyone shouted, stamping their feet in time. Spurred on Darren lowered his hands, the face of his creation smiling.

  The gorilla thrust itself into the air. The huge beast twisted, zeroing in on his opponent, as its gigantic body moved through the colosseum sky. His fists glared vividly as Darren dive-bombed the unsteady manifestation beneath him. A plume of golden sand punctuated the impact, the fighter’s sabre cast aside from Darren’s stunning attack. The sound from the spectator’s rose to a new level.

  “This is it!” Sadie said excitedly.

  “Alwin still isn’t here yet.” Wes said, more worried about what happened to him next, if Alwin didn’t show up.

  “Weird. He should have turned up by now,” she looked around. “Wait here, I’ll call him.”

  “You’ll miss the end.”

  “I've seen how it ends before. He uses a sonic punch, thingy.” She smiled. “You’ll see. Be right back.”

  “Okay.” Wes replied as she vanished.

  Darren stomped his foot down on the chest of the cloaked manifestation and clenched his right fist. A blue glow glimmered between the breaks in the iron. The glimmer turned to a pulse. Wesley watched with interest as the blinding blue light
was lifted into the air before being thrust down onto the defeated creation. The crowd went wild as the manifestation shattered before their eyes.

  Darren soaked up the applause and adulation, flexing for the spectators. Wesley laughed, hoping he could enjoy it like that too.

  “Hey, bro,” a young kid said to Wesley.

  Wesley turned and looked down at the nine or ten year old boy. His hair a dishevelled mess and wearing an Incredible Hulk pyjama top. “Hi,” Wesley said.

  “Are you fighting tonight?” he quizzed.

  “I’m supposed to be, my friend isn’t here yet,” Wesley explained.

  “Want to fight me? I’m new too.” He said.

  “You are?”

  “Yeah, I’m only echelon one. I lost my first fight.”

  “I was told everyone does.”

  “So do you want to clash me?” he asked again.

  “Sure, but how? I have a fight scheduled,” Wes told him.

  “Don’t sweat it, just shake my hand and it cancels it out. I get your slot with you.” He happily explained to Wesley.

  The pair shook hands and smiled, the shimmering glow signifying the agreement.

  Darren stepped out of the arena, straight away his eyes falling upon Wesley and the young kid called Hanson. He ignored the other fighter’s congratulations and moved quickly to Wesley’s side.

  “So what are you?” Wesley asked interested in what he would face.

  “Your worst nightmare, bro,” he laughed walking away.

  “Wes, what did you do?” Darren asked.

  “Alwin hasn’t turned up. So he offered to fight me instead.”

  “Oh God, you didn’t shake did you?”

  “Yeah, he’s only a level one,” Wes explained.

  “No, he’s a nab troll. He just kills new people, he’s echelon seven Wes and been building his level on noob’s.”

  “Well, that’s okay.” Wesley replied, seemingly unconcerned. “I was going to lose my first fight anyway.”