The Candidate (The Viral Superhero Series Book 3)

by Bryan Cohen

  She'd say to use my surroundings.

  Ted whistled as loud as possible. One Lychos turned around, and then the other. As the moon reflected off the hairy beasts, Ted could see three darts sticking out of one and five out of the other.

  She is one hell of a shot.

  Ted waved the stick in the air. "Hey, puppies. Good puppies."

  Ted watched as the creatures' eyes followed the stick. "Just like big dogs. Let's see if they like to fetch!"

  Ted tossed the branch in the opposite direction. The two creatures watched the piece of wood as it made an impact with the ground. Then they looked right back at Ted.

  "It was worth a try."

  Ted started to run, and the Lychos immediately gave chase. He placed each footstep as carefully as he could, knowing that one trip could result in death by giant dog. Ted's heart pounded and he could feel his lungs being pushed to the limit. The crisp, green smell of the trees was quickly being replaced by sweaty fur and dog breath. The growling and barking sounds behind him grew louder as he dashed through a patch of trees that were closer together. Ted sidestepped through them and looked behind him. The Lychos slowed down, unable to squeeze between the trees as Ted had.

  Ted grinned as his chest heaved. "Looks like we need to put you guys on the diet dog food."

  As the Lychos unveiled their claws, a sound like a perfect sword coming out of its sheath rang through the woods. They sliced several trees at once, clearing a path for themselves in just a few moments.

  "Next vet visit, we're clipping those nails." Ted went back to running and spied the clearing in the forest from earlier. As the Lychos gave chase, he knew he couldn't keep this up forever. His heart was beating even faster than it had during his multi-state flight.

  Ted reached the railroad tracks and heard a train whistle in the distance. He spied a faint white light that was getting brighter with every passing second. The Lychos exited the forest with a snarl and looked around for Ted. Seeing them outside of the tree cover made the creatures look even more intimidating. Their legs and teeth were twice the size of anything he'd ever seen on TV. It was something straight out of a nightmare.

  Ted heard the train whistle again and stepped off the track. "This is where I make my last stand."

  He pounded his hands together and screamed as loud as he could. The Lychos both jumped at the noise before realizing it was just the diminutive hero headed in their direction. One creature swiped at him, but Ted kicked his paw away. He rolled forward and kicked again with all his might. His shoes made impact with the beast's knee, causing the Lychos to fall forward. Ted jerked his body to the side to avoid being crushed.

  The other beast immediately leapt on top of Ted. He gripped the creature's wrists to avoid being sliced. As it snarled in Ted's face, he wondered if he'd ever smelled something so putrid. It was like a landfill mixed with a gas station toilet.

  "You must be a hit with the lady Lychos."

  When the creature lunged for his face, Ted released the grip in one hand and punched the creature right in the neck. When it clutched at its throat, Ted rolled away and pushed himself up to standing. The train grew louder as it approached.

  As Ted tried to bring the fight closer to the tracks, one of the creatures snatched him up by the back of his neck and lifted him off the ground. He felt the claws cut at his skin. Ted jerked back and forth until he slipped through the creature's grasp, sending him back to the ground. He got up right away. When the Lychos reached for Ted again, he jumped over the paw and grabbed hold of the creature's shoulder. Ted pulled himself up onto its back and started boxing it beside the ears.

  "This is for going on the carpet."

  The Lychos howled in pain and lurched forward, flipping Ted into the air. He landed on his feet before viewing the white light of the train fast approaching. The ground shook beneath his feet.

  "I'm gonna have to time this right."

  Both Lychos seemed to have already recovered from his assault. He watched the saliva drip from their sharp fangs. The creatures extended their claws until they looked like pale, white knives.

  "We got off to a rough start, guys, but with enough training, I think we can get back on track."

  The beasts charged after him and Ted slipped underneath their claws, running at full speed for the train tracks. He wondered if Natalie would be proud of his fifty-yard dash time as he pushed his legs to bring him up the slight incline. The sound of the train surrounded him and drowned out the noise of the approaching creatures. Ted's eardrums rattled and the ground shook beneath his feet as he reached the edge of the track. The train's whistle blared as the operator saw the boy on the tracks. Ted continued to run at full speed with the beasts right behind him.

  I'm not gonna make it.

  The train bore down on him and sparks flew as the operator tried to use the brakes. Ted put every last ounce of strength into his legs. He leapt past the other side of the tracks, his left foot barely clearing the engine as he tumbled to the ground.

  He barely heard the loud "whap" sound over the skidding of the brakes, but when Ted turned back, he saw that the train had smashed into the creatures at full speed. The locomotive sent both of the Lychos flying, with one ending up on each side of the tracks. Sparks from the train's still-engaged brake system illuminated the broken creature nearest Ted. His powers restored, Ted felt himself lift off the ground and move toward the beast. The massive creature was broken and bloody. He sat down beside it. On one of its arms, he spied the black tattoos that indicated it was a dark soul.

  "As if you needed an advantage." Ted watched as the train finally came to a complete stop. With the noise diminished, he heard something else.

  "Ted!"

  Between two cars, Ted saw Allison come into view. One arm hung limp at her side, but at least she was alive. Ted flew through the gap and landed in front of her.

  "Hey, are you okay?"

  Allison wrapped her good arm around Ted. She was shivering from the ordeal.

  Ted hugged her back. "Don't worry. They're dead."

  He looked to his left to verify. The Lychos on that side of the tracks appeared to have been struck even worse than its counterpart had. Ted looked back at Allison. The sweet smell of her hair filled his nostrils.

  She breathed deeply into his chest. "I have not been trained for this."

  Ted smirked. "What? They don't simulate an invasion by giant dogs from another dimension?"

  Allison pulled away from Ted. "Nope. I'll tell them to update the manual."

  As Ted felt the adrenaline leave his body, the train and the forest around him began to spin. He reached for his head and bent one knee onto the ground.

  Allison crouched down and put her arm over his shoulders. "Ted?"

  Her voice seemed to echo as everything started to go dark. He looked at his makeshift tourniquet. The blood had seeped all the way through and it was damp to the touch.

  "Hospital."

  Ted watched Allison pull out her phone as he grew more and more weak. Ted swore he heard Allison calling his name when the world around him slipped away.

  25

  Jennifer sat up in her bed with tears in her eyes. It took her a minute to recognize the ringing sound of the alarm. After she shut it off, she sat there in silence as long as she could, head in hands. She’d had another dream of grief and violence. Once again, she was powerless to stop Deputy Daly from killing Erica, and she was powerless to protect herself against the dark souls in the auditorium.

  "It’s all gonna be okay." She attempted to breathe through the waning sobs. "It's all gonna be okay."

  Her attempt to comfort herself wasn't completely true. Ted was in a hospital in North Carolina. She had no idea where Erica and Yoshi were, but she missed her friend something fierce.

  By the time lunch rolled around, Jennifer could barely keep her eyes open. Dhiraj sat by her side as Natalie and Travis ate across from them. Natalie's boyfriend had taken Erica's old seat, and the whole lunchroom conspired to kee
p the fifth seat open. That's where Ted used to sit.

  "Cents?" Dhiraj tapped Jennifer on the shoulder. Wherever she'd been, it certainly wasn't in range of the conversation.

  She forced a smile. "Sorry, what?"

  He grinned back. "I was just talking about the gatekeeper. What do you think she's up to?"

  Jennifer had enough demons she was dealing with in her head. It was overwhelming to consider fighting off something that could actually fight back.

  "I don't know." She opened her eyes wide to keep herself awake. "You were the ones who saw her. Not me."

  Dhiraj put his arm around her. "I know. You're just such a good sleuth. You're like a hot version of Sherlock Holmes."

  Jennifer couldn't resist the eye roll. "Elementary, my dear boyfriend… I've got nothing." She gestured across the table. "What about you guys?"

  Travis scratched his head. Jennifer didn't mind his presence at the table, though Dhiraj had put up resistance about letting him into the inner circle. Natalie said it was either let him in or watch her leave.

  Travis put down his sandwich. "Does it make any kind of shape when you connect the dots?"

  Jennifer flipped over her napkin and pulled a pencil out of her backpack. For all her lack of rest, she was able to draw a fairly accurate map of the U.S. The other three stared in awe at her capabilities.

  "A mapmaker, too?" Dhiraj kissed her cheek. "Maybe your Halloween costume should be a sexy cartographer."

  Natalie tossed a fry that landed right between Dhiraj's eyes. "Shut it, puppy love."

  Jennifer stifled a laugh and connected the dots between Treasure, Florida and North Carolina. "It just looks like a line so far."

  Natalie snatched the napkin from Jennifer. She stared at the three points on the makeshift map. "What do the attacks have in common?"

  Jennifer strained to form a coherent thought. Each of the attacks had been so different. The Florida hurricane incident involved the kidnapping of a young girl. The attack in Treasure was more like a robbery. The last one was more public than the other two had been and eight people remained missing. Judging by the pictures of the Lychos, she wouldn't be surprised if they'd been digested.

  Dhiraj interrupted her thoughts with the bite of a carrot stick. "I don't know. Maybe Erica and Yoshi'll find something."

  Jennifer pictured Erica going up against a gang of Lychos and Draconfolk. She saw the protector fending off one or two before ultimately succumbing to the swarm.

  She pouted. "I don't know. I worry about her."

  Natalie flared her nostrils. "Come on. I know she's your friend, but she's got a freakin' samurai by her side. Besides, she isn't exactly dainty."

  Jennifer thought back to her dreams and the blood dripping from Erica's side. She chewed on her lip. "I know. I just wish she were here."

  Dhiraj glanced over at the empty chair and sighed. "I wish they were both here."

  Travis slapped the table and they all perked up. "Quit whining, you guys." He put his arm around Natalie. "Soak this up. Who knows where we'll all be next year."

  Jennifer took in a deep breath. She didn't mind the subject change one bit.

  Natalie removed Travis' hand from her body. "Um, I'll be on national TV kicking butt for some school that's lucky to have me."

  Dhiraj grinned. "I'll be running Ted Finley LLC while rocking a 4.0 at Harvard."

  Dhiraj's eyes fixed on Jennifer's. She wanted to answer it in just the way he wanted, but they hadn't talked much about their future. At least, she hadn't.

  "I don't know what I'm gonna do." She worked her tongue around her mouth. "Maybe I'll keep an eye on Erica."

  Dhiraj put his hand on her lower back. "Didn't you do that for most of high school?"

  Jennifer felt the exhaustion come over her once again. "It's different now." She came off whinier than she wanted to. "She's trying to save the world. So is Ted. It's hard to think about college when giant lizards and dogs are going around killing people. And we're just sitting here, helpless."

  Silence filled the table, allowing the other noises of the lunchroom to trickle in. When Dhiraj leaned toward her, Jennifer turned away. They remained speechless.

  Travis cleared his throat. "See? None of us really know what's gonna happen. Personally, I see me and my entourage going to my girl's away games."

  Natalie raised her eyebrows. "You think we're gonna last till the end of the month? Let alone next year? I'm dating a crazy person."

  Travis made a kiss face and Natalie stuffed a handful of fries into his mouth.

  When lunch ended, Jennifer dumped out her trash and left the cafeteria as quickly as she could. The smell of fried foods gave way to the familiar scent of floor polish. Dhiraj caught up with her and matched her stride.

  "You really don't have any plans for next year yet?"

  Jennifer shook her head. "No. I really don't."

  Dhiraj bit his bottom lip. "Well, I was going to save this for a better time, but…."

  Jennifer stopped as Dhiraj fished something out of his backpack. He took out a folder filled with several sheets of paper. Jennifer took the documents and leafed through them.

  She squinted. "College applications?"

  He smiled. "Read the school names."

  Jennifer looked them over. "Boston University. Boston College. Northeastern–"

  "They're all in Boston." Dhiraj put his arm around Jennifer's waist. "I know I'm going to Harvard. I want you to be right around the corner."

  Jennifer wasn't sure how to react. She didn't even know what schools she would apply to. If any.

  "Dhiraj, I said I didn't know–"

  "I need you." He had a pained look on his face. "I know it's 10 months away, but I want us to be together for the long haul."

  Jennifer felt warmth course through her. It was her first positive sensation in over a week.

  Maybe that's a sign.

  "Okay."

  Dhiraj did a double take. "Okay? Just like that?"

  The warm feeling doubled. She smiled. "Just like that."

  Dhiraj wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

  Jennifer hugged him back. "I'm glad."

  For the first time in recent memory, Jennifer felt like she was needed. Like she could actually help someone. She'd do anything to stop the self-loathing and the nightmares. Maybe even move to Boston.

  26

  Erica and Yoshi walked around the south end of the collapsed hospital building early in the morning. The air smelled like smoke, even though nothing nearby appeared to be burning. Sheriff Norris had worked his connections to give them free reign to examine any potential evidence. Dropping Ted Finley's name didn't hurt, either. The rest of the city was still in deep recovery after the hurricane, but Erica felt a sense of pride that Ted was able to save so many lives. Since most excavation equipment was being used on other parts of the city, the collapsed hospital building had remained largely untouched. Erica walked on top of the rubble and thought back to Adam, the living soul she'd had to kill by bringing down a building on top of him.

  "What're we gonna find here, Yoshi?" Erica kicked a piece of cement in his direction.

  The samurai caught it with ease and placed it back in the pile. "Proof." He looked left and then right. "Proof of something."

  Erica scanned the top of the pile several more times. If something had brought the entire building down, it was likely buried far beneath the top of the pile. Even using her enhanced strength, there wasn't a safe way to reach the base of the foundation. Erica wondered if anyone would've even been able to hear any kind of detonation over the winds of the hurricane.

  After another 10 minutes of searching, Erica and Yoshi left the site for a makeshift temporary hospital a few blocks away. As they entered, the head nurse came right up to them. She had a vibe that could best be described as stern and sweet.

  "If it isn't Super Ted's girlfriend. I recognize you from the tabloids."

  Yoshi smirked
at Erica, but she ignored it to focus on the nurse.

  "Are you Nancy?"

  "I am. Your man floated me through a hurricane and saved me and my patients. I don't know what we could do to ever pay him back."

  Erica smiled. "He told me you were brave. Let me ask you a few questions about that night and we can call it even."

  "They say it's about trying to help their fellow man." Nancy gestured to a few plastic-folding chairs. "I think it's so they can get their pictures in the paper, but we'll take it either way. What do you two need to know?"

  Erica took out a notepad and a pencil. Dhiraj had offered her a space-age tablet for note taking, but there were some things Erica still preferred to do the old school way.

  "We have a theory about what brought the hospital down. Was there anything strange in the days leading up to the hurricane?"

  The nurse laughed. "What wasn't strange? Senator Kable's people were in and out all week for his visit. Volunteers were coming in to try to waterproof the building. If you told me it wasn't an episode of one of those hospital TV shows, I woulda had a hard time believing you. Pure drama."

  Erica looked at Yoshi.

  He cleared his throat. "Was anyone keeping track of all the people who came in and out?"

  The nurse laughed. "You talk?"

  Yoshi's face revealed a sly smile. "Only when necessary."

  She cackled, her laughter reverberating throughout the small space. "There's only one man who even had a chance of controlling that mess. Charlie Potts. He runs the hospital with an iron fist. Well, ran."

  Erica wrote down the man's name. "What do you mean ran?"

  The nurse sighed. "Day before the Hurricane, Charlie cashed in all his sick days from the last 20 years."

  Erica tapped her fingers against the chair. "Maybe he thought it'd be easier if he came back after the storm."

  "Charlie Potts doesn't do easy. Not sure what came over him. I swore I saw him the day of the storm, walking around like the life had been taken clean out of him."

  Yoshi nodded. "Can you tell us where to find him?"

  The nurse's face grew stern. "Usually, no." She brightened back up. "But for Team Ted, I'm willing to bend the rules."