by Nathan Howe
Halfway through his dish, Tony stood. “I need to use the men’s room. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” Kayla said.
Tony walked away, leaving Kayla alone.
She let out a breath. “Finally, some peace,” she said to herself.
Her body relaxed for the first time all night, and she felt better. This was really turning into a nightmare, and she couldn’t wait to get home. The first thing she was going to do was tell her mom no more blind dates. Her mother was terrible at picking out men for Kayla.
She set her fork and knife down and breathed slow and deep, letting the calm come over her in preparation for the rest of the date. It wouldn’t be much longer. At least there was that, and that was a sweet thought, a nice one that let Kayla smile for the first time all night.
After several minutes, she began to wonder where Tony had disappeared to. In Kayla’s experience, it was usually the females who took their time in the restrooms, not the men. This was yet another reason Tony wasn’t going to work out for her. Any man who spent more time in the bathroom than her at a restaurant was a no-go.
Kayla went back to her meal. If she finished before Tony got back, she might be able to wrap this up faster than expected. That would be an enjoyable way to end the night. She could go back home to her couch and curl up watching a movie.
Adrian appeared as if out of nowhere. “Where is your lovely date?”
Kayla snorted. Tony was anything but that, and both of them knew it. “Lovely? That is one way of putting it.”
Screams rang from the front of the restaurant, and a second later, a putrid stench flowed to Kayla, the smell of death and fear. Kayla gaged.
“Zombies!”
Several people shouted. Then the sound of smashing dishes and glasses filled Dantonio’s.
Kayla stood to see if it was true. Zombies weren’t common. They had to be summoned by a Netherworld user. They were the easiest creature to summon, and the nastiest looking.
Adrian put his arm in front of her to stop her. “Don’t,” he said. “It’s not safe. Let me.”
Kayla rolled her eyes. Adrian knew that she was an Ardent and that she worked for the Hero Coalition. It had been a mistake to tell him, but she had.
“You know I can take care of myself,” she informed him.
He hung his head. “Sometimes I forget.”
Kayla wished now she had worn something she could have hid her uniform under or even had left it in her car. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. She’d have to work with the dress even though it hadn’t been made to fight in, and she didn’t want to ruin it.
Peering around the waiters working station, she saw the zombies.
They were every bit as disgusting as she expected. It wasn’t that long ago that the city of Cynosure, home of primary training and headquarters of the Hero Coalition, had been attacked by a Netherworld user. He had summoned thousands of the Netherworld creatures with the aid of a powerful artifact. Luckily, this user didn’t have one.
The smell of rotten flesh made Kayla gag. It was the worst thing she had ever smelled in her life. It was a miracle she didn’t vomit all of her dinner out. The zombie’s flesh hung loosely from their bones. In many places, the bones protruded from the spotty skin. In some areas, she could see the muscles and tissues of the body, most of it black or green.
Adrian made gurgles sounds next to her. “Oh, my. I didn’t think zombies were real.”
Kayla pulled him back. “Don’t you watch TV or read the news?”
Adrian shook his head “Been distracted.”
Kayla threw her hands up. “If you did, you’d know that Cynosure was attacked by zombies and worse less than a month ago.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m joking around?”
He didn’t answer.
“I am going to help these people. You stay here and don’t make any sounds.”
“What are you going to do?” Adrian’s face held concern. It was obvious he was worried for her.
“Kill them. Zombies aren’t hard to dispose of. They aren’t from this plane of existence.”
Adrian's forehead wrinkled, and he gave her a weird look. He was confused, and Kayla didn’t have time to explain. All that mattered was those vile creatures didn’t belong.
She scanned the area she was in and found little in the way of weapons, other than the knives for eating. They would have to do.
She picked up a handful of the knives and sprang into action. Carefully going around the protection the waiter's station provided, Kayla stalked her prey. The people in the restaurant ran for their lives rushing to the exits. The sirens of the emergency exit wailed throughout the building. It pierced her ears, making them ring.
As she neared the first zombie, Kayla created a time bubble around herself that encased only her and the zombie. It momentarily disoriented the creature, and she used that to her advantage. She sliced its neck, and it dropped to the ground in a pile of ashes.
Exhaling, she dropped the bubble. This was her power—to make small bubbles of time that moved at a different speed than those outside of them. Many didn’t see the use of the ability, but she loved it.
As the bubble dropped, Adrian appeared next to her carrying a frying pan and a knife. If Kayla didn’t know any better, she’d say he seemed terrified, but he was here next to her.
“Wow. I’d never seen you use your power before. Are you like a super-speedster?” Adrian asked.
She shook her head. That would have been a nice power to have, but it wasn’t one her hers. “No. Time bubbles.”
He looked confused. “What?”
“Now is not the time.”
It was a typical mistake for people to make when they saw her in action. It looked similar to a blur a speedster made. She sped up time in the bubble. She was moving faster than anything outside of it.
“Okay,” Adrian said. He stayed at her side.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “You could get hurt.”
“So could you.”
“I’m an Ardent.” And since she had been trained, she didn’t worry she would get hurt.
Adrian ignored her and followed the screams of more people running in horror from the vile zombies. Kayla groaned. He wasn’t making it any easier. Having to work in a small dress and protecting him wouldn’t be easy. If she had her uniform and the weapons she usually had, this would be easy.
As it was, she was making it up as she went. Little knives and time bubbles were all she had. It should be enough. These weren’t the brightest of Netherworld creatures. Nonetheless, they were dangerous.
Kayla—or more accurately, Farsight, her codename—rushed forward. She leaped in front of Adrian and the zombie he had chosen to attack. This was her job and her livelihood. She wasn’t going to let another do it for her. Kayla was going to make sure her ex got out of here okay. For some reason, she still cared for him.
“Kayla,” Adrian said. “I didn’t cheat on you.”
“What?”
Kayla formed a bubble that captured both Adrian and the zombie. Both were disoriented inside.
“I think I’m going to vomit,” Adrian said.
The zombie, in its disgustingness, stumbled and growled at them.
Kayla stabbed it in the head, and it turned to ashes.
“Whoa,” Adrian said with wide eyes. “That is crazy.”
“It is,” Kayla said. “I told you to hide.”
Adrian grimaced. “I won’t hide. You shouldn’t do this alone.”
That was extremely noble of him. Kayla didn’t think he had it in him. Tonight, in general, Adrian had been a good guy. It had been completely unexpected.
“Fine,” Kayla said with a harshness she didn’t intend. It was a habit more than anything. Civilians made her job difficult.
She dropped the bubble to move on to the next one. She had counted six in total to begin with. Two down, four to go.
Adrian remained at her side.
“I didn’t cheat on you,” he said for the second time.
“Do you really want to have this conversation now?” Kayla said. She couldn’t believe that he was bringing it up now of all the times. This wasn’t the time nor the place for this type of talk.
“Since you ignored me before, I do.”
Kayla sighed. “Fine. I walked in on you with a half-naked woman in your bed.”
Saying that brought back the humiliating memory and the moment of terror and fear she had felt from the betrayal of the man she had chosen to love.
“I’ll admit that it doesn’t look good, but the girl is my stepsister. I told you my father got married again.”
“That is just gross.”
Somehow, it had been even worse than she had originally thought. Sleeping with his stepsister was disgusting.
They continued to the next zombie in the now cluttered and disaster of a restaurant. That was the real tragedy. This was one of her favorite places, and it was now ruined.
She formed another bubble. It almost always worked.
“She was over and spilled water on her shirt. I was trying to find her a dry one. Remember I told you I wanted you to meet Chris.”
“You mentioned your buddy Chris.”
Kayla attacked the zombie. This time, Adrian tried to help and didn’t get in the way like she thought he might. They both struck at the same instant, and the zombie turned to a pile of ash on the ground.
“Christina,” Adrian said. “My stepsister. I never used the word ‘buddy.’ I said I wanted you to meet Chris.”
Kayla tried to remember, but all she could recall were flashes.
She dropped the bubble as they continued to the next one. Adrian continued to talk to her. It was tough to focus on him and the zombies, but she did her best.
She tried to remember the night and why she had even gone over.
She formed a bubble around her and Adrian for a moment. It was stupid, but the zombie wouldn’t get far.
“I think I remember,” she said. “I was supposed to meet you and Chris, who you implied was a man, to watch the MMA match that night.”
“I never said it was a man. You aren’t the only female who likes MMA.”
He was right. That might have been why she had thought Chris was a man. Now she felt like a complete jerk. She had wasted over a year of her life by leaving the best man she had ever known.
“I’m sorry.”
She dropped the bubble to finish the remaining zombies. In the distance, she heard the familiar sound of the Hero Coalition sirens. She would have it all wrapped up before they arrived.
She found the remaining zombies and disposed of them in no time. Adrian remained by her side the whole time. It had been fun working with him, even if she had to keep him safe.
A minute after she finished, two heroes walked into the building, Project P and Alleviate both looked disappointed when they scanned the area, and their eyes stopped on her.
“Farsight?” Alleviate asked hesitantly.
Kayla nodded. “On a date.”
She must have looked goofy as could be to them, sweaty and ready to attack in her sexiest dress with Adrian next to her in the waiter uniform. Both of them were panting from the fight, yet Kayla was happy and optimistic.
“Netherworld zombies,” Kayla said. “Not sure who summoned them.”
Adrian looked around. “Uh, where is your jerk of a date?”
Kayla groaned. “In the bathroom last I knew.”
Adrian went in sure and came back a minute later with a worried face. “Nope.”
“Must have run with the rest of the crowd, and good riddance,” Kayla said. She wasn’t going to lose any sleep over him.
“That bad?” Project P asked.
“You have no idea. Worst date ever.”
Project P laughed. “I’m going to let HQ know you took care of this.”
Both Ardents left the building, and it was now just Kayla and Adrian. She turned to him. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I read that wrong. Can I make it up to you?”
Adrian nodded and smiled with a cheerful face. “How about tomorrow we meet for lunch?”
Kayla groaned. “I’m not sure I want to go to another restaurant.”
Adrian laughed. “I understand. Anything you want.”
“I’ll call you,” she said.
She hugged him and left. Kayla smiled, ready for whatever came next.
As she exited the building, she saw a man running down the street. He looked familiar. It was the suit, but it was surrounded by a terrifying darkness. Then it clicked. Her date, Tony, must have summoned the zombies. No wonder he irritated her and frustrated her to no end. She’d need to take care of this. That was for tomorrow, thought. He couldn’t have summoned anymore tonight so no one would get hurt.
Tonight, she was going to relax and think about Adrian and the possibility of rekindling that relationship. She enjoyed their time together and felt like a jerk for messing it up. She had blamed him for it, and now, she needed to make up for her misunderstanding. At least he was willing to let her make up for it.
For the first time in a long time, she felt happy and optimistic about her future. Maybe her dreams would come true after all. That would be wonderful. She truly wanted a family, and Adrian was a great guy.
Hacking Djinn Park
Jack stared at him wide eyed from across the desk. The article of what happened laid open on the old beat up desk. It held a monitor that was close to fifteen years old and a computer that was at least ten.
Steve hated computers. It wasn’t that he didn’t find them useful, he did. They were great for research and the like, but other than that he saw no need for them.
“I’m sorry,” Jack said. “How am I supposed to believe you helped Phalanx Consolidated with a hacker? You can barely turn on your own computer.”
“Hey,” Steve said. He was a tall man with tattoos that covered his body, Jack was his tattoo artist. Steve always wore no shirt and a pair of jeans with a trench coat. He needed easy access to the tattoos, they were part of his Ardent ability. Steve like any Ardent had special powers. His was to make pictures come to life. “I did help them. It wasn’t a normal hacker.”
Jack leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. “Yes. I remember you mentioning that in our last session.”
If Steve didn’t replace the object he pulled from his body back in a certain amount of time or just plain lost it he had to get the tattoo replaced. It was one of the drawbacks to using tattoos.
“Trust me,” Steve said. He opened a draw in the desk and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. It was late enough for a drink. “Here, have a drink, and I’ll tell you.”
“It’s about time,” Jack said.
Steve regaled Jack with a lot of his tales from his Private Investigations.
I arrived at Phalanx Consolidated last Monday. The owner called me that afternoon with a request to show up and help them with an issue. He was extremely vague about it on the phone but was willing to pay double my normal fee. Who was I to say no?
The headquarters wasn’t large and located in Cynosure. I hated that I had to leave my own little place here in Djinn Park, and to make matters worse I had to travel to a district in Cynosure I hate the most. With the amount he was offering I bit the bullet and did it.
A short, pudgy man with a pencil mustache greeted me at the reception area. He was your stereotypical nerd. “Mister,” the man hesitated. “I don’t actually know your last name.”
“Just call me Steve,” I said. “I’m all about being informal and stuff.”
The man nodded. “Okay, Steve. Thank you for coming. My boss wants to talk to you as soon as possible.”
“Lead on. You know what this is about?” I asked. It wasn’t that unusual to not know the details of a case. Considering Ardents were out causing havoc just as much as regular people. I figured it was Ardent related, or more precisely magic related. Otherwise, they would have called the polic
e or the Hero Coalition.
I shivered at the thought of the Hero Coalition. For years I resisted them and actively fought joining them. Recently, I was left with little choice but to become a part-time member to get their help in tracking a killer who was butchering people in Djinn Park.
“We have been hacked several times in the last three weeks,” the man said. “I’m Drake, and I’m in charge of the IT department.
“Drake.” I side eyed him not sure how to start explaining to him how little I knew about computers. “I don’t think I’m your guy.”
Drake smiled. “Just talk to my boss.”
I inhaled deeply. “Okay.”
Drake knocked on the door and waited for a moment. “Come in.”
We walked into a spacious office with a view of the city. Not as impressive as the one from Invincible office, or so I’m told. He was the leader of the Hero Coalition and had an office near the top of the tallest building in the world. Lucky, I’ve never had the privilege to visit, and I intended to keep it that way. This room was still nice enough that I was jealous of it.
Drake’s boss was disheveled and frantically paced in front of his desk. “It’s about time,” he said. “I’m Ron.”
I reached out with my hand, “Steve.”
“Yes. I know. I’ve researched you.”
I groaned, I hated it when people went on the internet and searched for me. Most of it wasn’t close to reality. It meant I’d be bombarded with questions of this or that. These days it started with either the Butcher or Spector. I had dealings with both recently, and both made headlines. Spector nearly destroyed the whole city and was only stopped by the Hero Coalition. My part was small thankfully.
