by Bryan Cohen
Natalie gave it a light kick in the side to see if the beast was still conscious. When it didn't move, she smiled at Ted's sister.
"That was awesome." Natalie rubbed at her arm. The creature hadn't drawn that much blood, but the pain lingered.
"Nowhere near as cool as that kick off the tree. Did you see Sam?"
Natalie shook her head. As she did, she spied another hulking shape coming her way. And then another. "We better get back to the dorm."
Natalie and Christina were about to exit the woods when a blue portal opened up right in front of them. It whirred with electricity as the bright ring grew wider. Natalie half-expected another Draconfolk to come popping out. Instead, it was the stout, pale woman she'd come to know as the gatekeeper. Natalie's stomach flipped once again.
"Natalie Dorner and the sister of the living soul." The gatekeeper tossed her hair. "I see you've met my friends."
36
Jennifer tried to keep her gaze away from Redican's eyes, as if looking deeper into them would make her lose her mind. She glanced at her father and Dhiraj. They wore similar expressions. From the corner of her eyes, she could see how much the man across from them had aged since he had become a substitute teacher at Treasure High the previous school year.
After a minute of silence, Redican rolled his eyes. "You can look at me. The orderlies have me nice and drugged up." He relaxed his face and eyes. "Besides, so much of my power came from the book, I'm as harmless as a fly now."
A look from the orderly in the room betrayed Redican's lie. The front desk had already informed Jennifer and her guests about several incidents. The one that caught her attention was the time Redican made everyone see him as a little girl who'd accidentally been locked in overnight. The head doctor was on the phone with the police when he saw a glimmer of who the girl truly was.
"Flies carry disease." Dhiraj looked tense. Then again, he'd been oddly tense the entire ride over there.
"Indeed they do." Redican smiled. "How's school? Have they gotten another long-term sub to replace me? You know, the pay teachers get these days is alarming. They should–"
"Enough." Sheriff Norris looked as though he wanted to burn a hole in the side of Redican's face. "You almost killed students at that school, my daughter included. This isn't an opportunity for small talk."
Redican nodded and sat up straight in his chair. "I didn't think this was a social call." As he looked at the three of them, his body shook with strain.
Jennifer felt a presence in her mind. She put her hands to her head, realizing that Redican was rifling through her thoughts. Judging by the way Dhiraj and her father were reacting, he was doing the same with them. Jennifer felt the tension in her head ease.
Redican's body relaxed. "Erica's missing, huh?"
Jennifer felt dirty and wondered what else he could learn in there. Could he see things even she didn't know were inside?
The sheriff grunted. "I have a feeling you knew that before we came in."
Redican shifted in his chair. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Jennifer leaned forward. "They told us you tried to escape about a week ago."
Dhiraj scoffed. "From what we heard, it was pretty pathetic."
Redican grumbled. "These drugs. I don't even know what I'm doing half the time."
Her father's eyes narrowed. "Erica put her spell on you. I know what it does. She did it to me."
Redican frowned. Jennifer imagined a person who could control minds didn't love it when he got a taste of his own medicine.
"Fine." Redican put up his hands. "You got me. I tried to run away. I was compelled to, but I didn't get very far."
Redican stretched his legs apart, the rattle of his shackles echoing throughout the small room. "It was quite embarrassing, actually. They drugged me and wrestled me to the ground in front of all my new friends."
Dhiraj smiled. "Sounds like exactly what you deserved."
Redican scowled. "Rubbing it in won't get you what you want."
Jennifer felt like their moment was slipping away. She took a lighter tone. "We don't know where Erica is. We think that you tried to escape because you knew where to look."
Redican smiled as if he had the upper hand for the first time in months. "I have a feeling you're right. It's obvious that whatever this connection is with Erica, it's strong. I think I'd be able to help…" Redican put his feet, shackles and all, on top of the desk. "I just don't think I want to."
The sheriff looked like he was about to dive across the table and reach for Redican's throat. Jennifer stayed her father. "What if we made a deal with you?"
Dhiraj and Sheriff Norris spoke in unison. "What?!"
Jennifer waved them away.
Redican tucked his armed behind his head and leaned back. "I like deals. I'd be interested to hear the terms you're offering."
After the sheriff signed the bottom line of the document, the four of them walked outside. Redican's hair looked even more silvery as it billowed in the wind.
"You miss the little things when you're holed up in a cage." Redican held his hand up and let the wind waft through his fingers. "What's next?"
The sheriff opened the back door for him. "We were hoping you'd tell us."
The former sub was about to get in the backseat when he seemed to hear something. He looked out into the sky.
"I will." Redican reached out as if to touch the clouds. "Once we get going, I'll be able to lead you right to her."
37
Sandra held her husband's hand as they watched the news from the couch. Their DC residence wasn't nearly as spacious as the Pennsylvania home, but that didn't bother her. It reminded her of the final apartment of her former inhabitant's life. She looked over at her husband, whose eyes were fixed on the television. Sandra considered kissing his neck when a special report interrupted her would-be foreplay before it had begun.
Rudy Bolger came on the air, looking as if he'd been rushed from makeup to his desk. His Cheshire grin told Sandra that something ratings-worthy was on the horizon.
"Good evening. President Blake has announced that he's made a major shift in his campaign, including an about-face on the face of his domestic policy." Bolger leaned into the camera and cupped one hand over his mouth. "I wrote that one." He went back to his original position. "Blake has changed his tune about superhero Ted Finley."
Senator Kable squeezed Sandra's hand so hard that she thought it would begin seeping blood. She wrenched it away from his grasp. She wanted to scold her husband, but the look on his face spoke the words "proceed with caution."
"President Blake has gone so far as to declare war on the other world. A literal World War. Let's see part of his speech in Iowa."
The screen cut to President Blake standing behind a podium. Local government leaders filled the space behind him while a few rows of spectators could be seen before him. The nervous leader who'd stumbled on questions during the debate was no longer. It appeared the man had his swagger back.
"I don't agree with Senator Kable on a lot of issues, but he was right about one thing: I need to take action. I've liquidated the Ted Finley task force. Instead, I'm issuing an executive order declaring war against this new world."
Kable stood up with a jolt. He grabbed the remote control off the coffee table and promptly slammed it into the wall. The device smashed into a dozen pieces, which tumbled to the carpet.
"With God as my witness, the United States of America will end these attacks and protect the world from terrorism. It's our world and we'll protect it with everything we've got."
A chorus of cheers echoed throughout the venue before the camera cut back to Bolger. The twinkle in the man's eye made Sandra's stomach sink.
"The policy change came at a welcome time for the President. Poll numbers were shifting toward his opponent, giving Senator Kable a two-point lead."
A graphic appeared on the screen showing the latest polls. Sandra's husband squatted down and placed his hands on the coffee t
able. With a skyward jerk, Kable flipped the table completely over as it landed with a thud. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out his phone as Sandra looked more closely at the numbers.
"With a single policy shift, President Blake is now polling as the victor with a two-point margin over his challenger. An impressive four-point swing."
Sandra moved cautiously ahead so she could look at the scene unfolding in the kitchen. She deduced that her husband was speaking with Terry, the campaign manager.
"You told me it looked like things were in the clear!"
A wine glass shot from one end of the kitchen to the other, crashing against the wall with a ping and shattering on the countertop. Her husband's tone was getting louder and angrier with each word.
"We should've gotten out ahead of this, Terry! You're telling me we don't even have a statement ready?!"
Another glass zipped across the kitchen as Senator Kable paced back and forth. Sandra cringed as the sound of glass breaking once again reached her ears. She walked up to the TV and hit the power button. There was no need to watch the group of pundits talk about what she already knew. Senator Kable's plan had been working, until it wasn't.
She tiptoed to the opening between the kitchen and the living room.
"Don't speak to me like a child!" Kable voice grew low. "I could end your career in a heartbeat."
Another glass went whizzing by, but this time Sandra had to duck to avoid the contact. She turned back to see the glass break quietly on the carpet. When she looked back at her husband, he'd hung up the phone and was staring straight into her eyes.
"Honey, I–"
Sandra felt the air slam into her gut as she flew backward across the living room. She crashed into the wall, feeling a crack in her shoulder before her hip landed on the ground. Crumbled drywall fell on the top of her head. Sandra's shoulder burned as her husband loomed over her. Senator Kable didn't even seem to notice his fallen wife.
"We need to go further."
Sandra shifted to her left to see if she could get her shoulder back into place. It only stung worse when she moved. "But how?"
Kable paced as Sandra got to her feet and shook the white powder from her hair. She knew they'd have to get someone in here to patch up the hole before they had any company.
Kable's movement stopped. He looked up with a smile. "We need a hero."
Sandra sighed. "Ted knows about you, dear. He'll never turn."
Kable shook his head. Sandra looked into his eyes, and now felt like she was face to face with the devil himself.
"We don't need Ted. I'll be the hero." Kable's grin grew wide. "And you'll be the villain."
38
Ted shivered for most of the car ride back to Treasure. He'd been through a lot of challenges in the last year, many of which made him worry about death. After killing the giant Lychos while he was inside its mind, now he knew what dying felt like. It was dark and black. The feeling was endless. As far away as he felt from Erica at the moment, Ted wondered if he now had a connection with her on a deeper level.
Allison broke the heavy silence. "Look at the bright side. At least you're still alive."
Ted made the slightest of acknowledgements. "All of the pain, none of the release."
He could feel Allison's glare on the side of his face.
"You're saying that you want to die? That's hardly constructive."
Ted stared off out of the passenger side window. "No. It just would've taken some of the weight off my shoulders."
Allison scoffed. "You know, you've still got people out there who care about you, Ted. You don't have to carry that burden alone."
Ted finally looked over at Allison. She looked older somehow. Like she was a parent giving him advice.
"Nobody else is a superhero."
"Plenty of people are superheroes. They just don't have powers. You think you're the only one who has troubles or responsibility?"
Ted's face grew warm. "If I fail, all those other heroes die. All their burdens are mine. And I don't know what I'm doing."
There were a few moments of silence before Allison took a deep breath. "You'll figure it out."
Ted instinctively searched through Allison's mind. As far as he could tell, she really meant what she said.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"I don't. But you'll do it, because you have to."
Allison pulled into the Finley driveway and put the car in park. After she turned off the engine, they sat there for several minutes. Ted leaned his head back against the seat and attempted to have his muscles release the tension of the events of the last few days. He let the pain, suffering and death seep out of him and into the seat. He knew Allison was right. Necessity would give him what he needed to pass his next set of tests. At least, he hoped it would.
"I'm sorry." Ted took Allison's hand. It was colder and longer than Erica's. "I really appreciate you trying to cheer me up."
Allison ran her thumb along Ted's palm. "You're going to stop the bad guys. You're going to find Erica. I know there's a lot of pain and suffering out there. Just remember the good stuff, too."
Ted nodded and undid his seatbelt. He leaned over and hugged Allison. "I will. Be safe."
She squeezed him back. "You too. Now, go save the world."
Ted unloaded his luggage from the car and waved goodbye to his short and storied career as a government operative. As he walked up to the front porch, he saw a shadow shift before him. When he got closer, the samurai stepped out from the black. Ted froze. The man was the last person to see Erica alive, but Ted had no way of knowing if Yoshi was involved in her disappearance. He proceeded with caution.
"I thought you were in Japan." Ted left his bags in the middle of the front walkway.
Yoshi met Ted halfway. "Senator Kable and his men sent that text after they took us captive." His voice wavered. "I barely escaped with my life."
Yoshi's distress sounded genuine. Ted's efforts to get the truth from the samurai's brain remained unsuccessful. Ted tried to hide his frustration.
"Where is she?"
Yoshi cracked his knuckles. "I can show you. But you'd better be ready for a fight."
Ted looked deep into the samurai's eyes, but they didn't give anything away. He had yet to trust Erica's former friend from the moment he met him. But if the man truly knew where Erica was, then Ted had no choice but to follow him.
"What's one more fight? I'm ready."
Ted followed the samurai’s directions and pulled the car into a stripmall parking lot. The shops had been long abandoned, judging by the grass growing through the sidewalk cracks. Ted's hope grew.
This would definitely be a good place to hide someone.
Yoshi led him around the back of the building to a locked white door surrounded by brick. The samurai gestured to Ted, and he got the hint. For some reason, the lock was difficult for him to disengage with his powers. He felt tired, as if he'd jogged up the stairs too quickly. As Yoshi opened the door, Ted searched for Erica's mind. He couldn't detect her, but with his powers glitching, there was a chance he simply wasn't strong enough.
Ted followed Yoshi inside. The room was larger than it looked from the outside, and it seemed as though it could easily house a small grocery store if it'd ever been finished. Everything was bathed in a concrete grey hue. When Ted closed the door behind them, only a sliver of light came into the room through a broken vent near the ceiling.
"Where is she, Yoshi?"
Yoshi slipped into the shadows, and the sound of his footsteps seemed to disappear, despite the echo-prone interior. Ted kept his back up against the door, recalling his mistakes in the fight last year against Sandra in the school gymnasium.
"Your princess is in another castle." Yoshi's laugh bounced off the walls.
Ted wasn't sure what he was surprised at more: Yoshi's laughter or his knowledge of 1980s Nintendo games.
Yoshi continued. "You'll have to get through me if you want to find her."
Ted cro
uched down in a fighting position. "You told me to be ready for a fight. I've been ready ever since you got to town."
Ted saw Yoshi's face creep out of the shadows. The samurai's calm demeanor had morphed. His emotionless exterior now bore a massive smile.
"It'll be an honor killing you, Ted Finley."
39
Natalie stared with awe as the gatekeeper slammed her staff to the ground and another five portals opened behind her. Each portal yielded several Draconfolk, and the creatures all lined up in a controlled formation. By the time the portals closed, Natalie could count 16 in all. She glanced back to see the two beasts who'd been chasing them join the ranks.
"How coincidental it is to see you again." The gatekeeper looked beautiful and confident. "Too bad it's not under the greatest of circumstances for you."
Natalie held up one hand. "Hey, there's no need to go around killing people. I mean, we get the point, you can summon up wolves and lizards and stuff. It's very impressive."
The gatekeeper's smile glinted in the moonlight. "Why, thank you. I've never seen such politeness on Earth. If any of you could survive, I'd pick you."
The gatekeeper gestured back to her army of giant lizards. They began to move forward.
"Wait!"
Even the lizards halted in their tracks from the shrill sound of Christina Finley's voice. "We surrender. On behalf of the university, we surrender. Can we discuss the terms of our peaceful ceasefire?"
