The Candidate (The Viral Superhero Series Book 3)

by Bryan Cohen

"He's gonna throw him in." Natalie's heart pounded. "We've gotta do something!"

  She surveyed her surroundings. To the side of the portal, the banner promoting Kable's speech hung on the ground. While the rope that held the left side of the banner had been snapped, the right side appeared to be firmly secured to one of the buildings.

  When Kable tossed Ted into the portal, Natalie didn't think. She ran. She heard Travis' footsteps close behind her.

  "What are you doing?"

  Natalie ignored him and reached the torn end of the rope. She wrapped it around herself and tied a perfect fisherman's knot. Natalie watched as Kable stepped away from the portal.

  "Wait!"

  Natalie prepared to give Travis a death stare, but there was too much love in his eyes. He ran up to Natalie and wrapped his arms around her. She felt a moment of hesitation.

  He talked into her shoulder. "Be careful."

  She pulled away. "Not my style."

  With a wink, Natalie dashed off toward the gateway. She reached top speed in no time and dove into the blue portal like it was the deep end of the pool.

  A strange sensation passed over her body. The air was dry and hot against her skin. Sand blew through the air, but she covered her eyes before anything could damage them. Behind her, she saw that the rope was holding firm through the portal. Natalie glanced down and saw a desert far below, but she didn't fall.

  I'm floating.

  As she braved looking ahead through the sandstorm, she saw him. Ted was motionless, though he floated as she did. Blood leaking from one of his wounds was likewise hovering in the air. She didn't stop to think about the physics as she tried to swim toward him. With each stroke, Natalie got a little bit closer. The sand shot into her mouth, but she refused to slow. With one strong kick, she reached him. Natalie took Ted under one arm like she was rescuing him from the ocean.

  "All I need is a shiny, orange buoy."

  All of a sudden, Natalie felt herself drop a few feet. She held on tighter to Ted as they stabilized. Natalie looked back toward the portal. It was shrinking.

  "Not good."

  Natalie used her free hand to grab around the rope. She pulled the two of them closer to the gateway, with a little assist from whatever was keeping them afloat. Natalie wrapped her legs around the rope and gave another tug toward the portal. They floated a little closer, but not close enough. The gateway continued to close in on itself, but they remained several feet away. Natalie felt the tug of gravity again, as whatever was keeping them afloat was gone. The fisherman's knot held with a jerk as they went completely vertical. Natalie clasped her hands under Ted's arms. They were stable, but stable wasn't going to keep them alive.

  Natalie shifted Ted to one shoulder and tried to pull them up with her free hand. She couldn't budge. It was just too much weight to carry.

  "We're not gonna make it."

  Natalie looked down at the expanse of sand below. When she glanced back up, the portal was seconds away from closing for good.

  Erica breathed a little more calmly when Natalie's rope seemed to hold up between the two worlds. Any one of a number of environments could await them. Erica could only hope that it was one that was habitable for humans. As Adam walked closer, she began to see the qualities of the living soul she'd once protected. He was confident and strong, but his awareness wasn't as keen as it needed to be. He hadn't even noticed Natalie's mad dash to the portal. Erica had tried to develop that particular quality in him; she was glad he'd never picked it up in the meantime.

  Adam smiled and threw a punch. Erica dodged it and countered with her own, which Adam feinted with ease.

  "You were stronger in the other body," he said.

  "And you used to have a full face."

  They continued swinging at one another for several exchanges. She knew he was toying with her. After a dozen blocked punches on either side, Erica finally connected after faking with one fist and jabbing with the other.

  He nursed the forming bruise. "Enough!"

  "You always were impatient."

  "I think it's time to take your new brain for a spin."

  Erica held her breath. She tried to calm her mind as she'd learned in Japan. She could feel the tendrils of his powers reaching through her thoughts, until they were gone completely.

  He growled. "Let me in!"

  Erica was confused. It didn't even feel like he was trying.

  From a few yards to their left, Mr. Redican cleared his throat. "Mr. Senator, you've been impeached."

  Erica couldn't tell what the object flying toward the senator was until it made impact. It was the massive wooden podium from the front of the stage. The senator couldn't react as the heavy stand slammed him right in the head and took him to the ground. Erica looked to the stage where Sheriff Norris and Travis stood panting.

  Erica smiled. "Now that's what I call taking a stand."

  Redican bent to one knee and held his head. Erica scampered to his side. "Are you–"

  "He is very powerful." He waved her off. "The portal."

  She looked up as the gateway between worlds started to close. Erica was already halfway between Redican and the portal when she heard a bullet click into a weapon's chamber.

  "Stay right where you are, Ms. LaPlante!"

  Erica did as she was told, but was surprised at the person who'd done the telling. Agent Vott of the DHS and several other agents had their weapons drawn. And all of them were pointing their guns at her.

  "Ted Finley's on the other side of that portal, Agent Vott. Let me pull him back and then you can shoot me to pieces."

  Erica took a step toward the shining blue circle, and Vott unloaded a bullet near her shoes. The sound of gunfire echoed through the street.

  "I'm afraid I can't let you near that thing until we understand it."

  Erica glanced back over her shoulder. "Redican?"

  The former substitute teacher shook his head. "Kable was too strong. I've got nothing left."

  She looked back to the stage before realizing that Sheriff Norris and Travis had stepped to her side. They took a stride forward and guarded Erica.

  "Let her do it, Agent Vott." Sheriff Norris puffed out his chest. "You can take her in afterward."

  Travis mimicked the sheriff's stance. "Leave her alone."

  As Erica walked toward the portal, she heard the command that would change everything.

  "Shoot all three of them."

  One bullet hit Travis' side and went right through him, barely missing Erica behind him. As she ran for the portal, Sheriff Norris took at least two bullets judging from the sound they made upon impact. Erica reached the rope and began to tug. She could feel the weight of at least two people on the other side.

  A bullet flew through the air and crashed into her leg. Erica squinted and continued to pull as the portal shrank.

  Agent Vott put his hand up to wave off the other agents. Erica heard Travis and the sheriff moaning in pain on the ground, but she tried to focus all her attention on the rope.

  Vott clicked another bullet into place and put the barrel up to Erica's head.

  "I'm not going to ask again."

  When she gave another tug on the rope, Vott pushed the gun even harder against her temple.

  She growled. "Do you really want to be known as the guy who killed Ted Finley?"

  Vott slammed the gun into the back of Erica's head and kicked her right in the leg wound. She lost her grip on the rope and fell to the ground. Above her the gateway closed at double speed. Smaller. Smaller. And then it was gone. The rope snapped with a blue glow and landed on the ground beside her. Everything she'd been doing to keep her mind calm exploded at once. Fear, rage and pain swirled like a tornado.

  It's over.

  "Erica?"

  Erica wasn't sure where Dhiraj's voice came from until she remembered her comm link. Vott picked up the shining blue end of the rope and looked it over.

  "Roll." Dhiraj's voice was sharp and fast.

  "What?"


  "Roll!"

  Erica turned away from where the portal had been. When she looked, Erica saw the fastest moving van she'd ever laid eyes upon. She rolled to her left, as Vott dove out of the way on the other side of the vehicle. The van screeched to a halt and Jennifer popped out of the passenger side. She put Erica's arm over her shoulder.

  "Let's get outta here."

  Jennifer helped Erica limp back to the van, as Dhiraj and Redican assisted Travis and Sheriff Norris into the other side. Before the door closed, Erica looked back at the senator lying on the ground. The emotional ache made her physical agony even worse. When Erica tried putting weight on her leg, she felt like she might pass out from the pain. She slumped alongside the other two gunshot victims in the back and slammed the door of the van closed. Dhiraj put the van in reverse and hit the gas before Vott and his agents could fire a single retaliation shot. Erica looked through the side of the van as if she could still see the spot where the portal hung above the ground.

  "I failed. Adam's alive and Ted's gone."

  Jennifer put her arm around her friend. "We can get him back, right?"

  Erica had tears in her eyes. "I'm not sure." Jennifer squeezed her friend tight as they sped away from the rally.

  Sheriff Norris called in two favors and found an abandoned warehouse and an old buddy who was willing to help. Kelly, a former Army medic with a massive beard and kind eyes, stopped the bleeding and disinfected the wounds. Redican said that when his powers were recharged, he'd get them into a proper hospital with disguises. Erica made sure she was the last person to be treated. She wanted the bullet to stay inside her for as long as possible as a sort of punishment. She'd lost the living soul and one of her best friends, and she had no idea where they could be. The portal could have led anywhere. They might be dead already.

  The gang moved locations multiple times over the next few days to avoid detection. They eventually made it out of the city to a safe haven: Kelly's family farm a couple of hours west of the city. It was peaceful and green out there. Jennifer said it was the kind of fresh smell you never get in the suburbs. It reminded Erica of her village during her first lifetime. It was exactly the kind of place they needed to be to figure out what to do next.

  Erica sat on an old wooden bench alone with her thoughts. Sheriff Norris was still in bed recovering. He, Kelly and Redican were talking about livestock or something else farm-related in the house. Dhiraj finally convinced Jennifer to leave her father's side and go on a walk to see some of the 30 acres that surrounded them. Travis came up beside Erica.

  "Seat taken?"

  She gestured to the empty spot and he took it. They both looked out into a field with corn as far as the eye could see.

  Travis let out a deep breath. "You've been quiet."

  She nodded. "Never got to thank you for taking a bullet for me."

  "All in a day's work." He rubbed at his eyes. "Do you think Natalie's alive?"

  Erica wished she knew the answer to that one. "I don't know."

  Travis leaned forward. "If she is, do you have any idea how we can get her back?"

  Erica let her back press up against the old wood and the bench creaked beneath her. "There's only one way I've thought up so far."

  Travis turned toward her. "What's that?"

  Erica pictured Ted. She thought of wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips against his. The one way she might be able to save him involved her never having the chance to do those things ever again.

  "I might be able to find them if I go back to the Realm of Souls." She paused. "And the only way for me to do that… is to die."

  EPILOGUE

  Razellia watched her youngest daughter play from the corner of their yard. It could hardly be called theirs, as everything was technically owned by their leaders, but it felt better for Razellia to claim some kind of ownership. Her daughter Vella had an unparalleled imagination. She was running around pretending to be a warrior who could slip between worlds with ease. Razellia thought about the rumors of the gatekeeper who'd been turned to their side. She didn't know what to believe. For all she knew, the war had been over for years and their leaders kept the truth a secret to continue oppressing them. It was amazing how many people were willing to live on scraps in order to serve a greater cause, even if they had no idea what the cause truly was.

  Vella ran to one corner of a makeshift fence and stood upon it. When her daughter looked out into the barren fields, Razellia knew she saw grand mountains and massive oceans. She was able to imagine away the dust and the withered crops. Razellia wondered how her daughter contorted the ever-present smell of death into something more magical. Perhaps she conjured up the aroma of the sweet treats her father was able to obtain once every few moons.

  How long has it been since she's seen you, Torrin? Would she even recognize you anymore?

  Razellia's thoughts were interrupted by a sound resembling thunder high in the air. A flash of blue caught her eye. Vella shrieked with joy, as if her imagination had somehow manifested itself in reality.

  "It's a gatekeeper! It's a gatekeeper!"

  Sure enough, a blue marvel hung in the middle of the sky for all to see. It stuck out amid the gray dust clouds.

  Vella ran up to her mother's leg and pulled at her dress. "Do you see it, Mom?"

  Razellia nodded. "Yes, honey. Can you run inside and find your father's old scope?" She anticipated her daughter's protest. "We can get a closer look."

  Vella let her mouth hang open in a smile before she dashed inside. Razellia wasn't quite as convinced the spectacle was worth smiling about. She strained her eyes to see more, but there was no chance without the scope. Several other members of her village had spotted the commotion as well. She even spied a child on the thin roof of his house trying to get a better look. Razellia's thoughts lay more with hopes the roof would hold than the blue phenomenon when her daughter handed her the scope.

  "Can I look, Mommy?"

  Razellia smiled and took the scope. "Let me look first, darling girl, and make sure it's safe for kids to look at."

  Razellia let her eyes focus through the scope. As clear as day, the blue speck in the distance was a shining portal high in the air.

  Why there? Why now?

  Razellia absent-mindedly handed the scope to her daughter and propped the girl up on her shoulders.

  "Wow!" Vella started laughing with glee. "It's so beautiful."

  Until something comes out of there.

  "Look, Mommy. A boy just came through."

  Vella handed her mother the scope. Razellia looked back through the glass to see a boy with dark hair and a long, narrow face outside the portal. Surprisingly, he didn't plummet when he exited through the gateway. He sort of hovered there. Razellia noticed something on his side that dripped into the wind. Crimson blood was coming down his side.

  Razellia gently lowered her daughter back to the ground.

  Vella shook with excitement. "Mommy, can I look again?"

  Razellia's eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry, dear, but there are some things only grown-ups can see. I promise I'll tell you all about it when you're done playing."

  "But I'm done playing now!"

  Vella's eyes were so cute and blue, it was tough to say no to anything she asked. But Razellia had plenty of practice saying no.

  "You head inside and wash up, then."

  Vella hung her head and walked into the house. Razellia knew she'd go right up to her room and look up from her window, but at least her daughter wouldn't have the detail of the scope. When she heard a gasp from one of her neighbors, Razellia looked back skyward. Through the scope, she saw that another figure had come out of the portal, this one with some kind of rope attached to her. Razellia knew right away that the girl was trying to rescue the boy.

  Razellia saw the sand blow the girl back. The rescuer had a determined look on her face and willed herself through the air. With great effort, she finally put her arms around the boy and tried to pull them back toward the
portal.

  Razellia felt her heart speed up when the gateway started to close. She tore her eyes away from the scope and looked at her neighbors. They were all farmers and shopkeepers. What could they do to help?

  But we have to try.

  She watched as the two floating children went completely vertical. The girl struggled to hold onto the boy in the middle of the sky. She looked back at the house and saw her daughter's mouth hanging wide open.

  "Vella, you close that window right this instant!"

  Her daughter hesitated but eventually complied. When Razellia looked back toward the portal, it had completely closed, ripping the rope and sending the boy and the girl dropping out of the sky. Razellia's heart sank.

  "No!"

  A cloud of dust whipped around their bodies as the boy and the girl vanished out of sight and into the badlands. Razellia was afraid for their lives, but she felt something she hadn't experienced in a long time: purpose.

  They’re alive.

  Razellia wasn’t sure how she knew, but she was sure enough to set up someone to watch Vella while she packed for her trek.

  They’re alive, and I’m supposed to find them.

  By the time Razellia stepped to the edge of her village, the hubbub from the earlier skyward sighting had died down completely. But not for her.

  "In the name of the General, if you two survived, I'll find you."

  The dust kicked up around her heels as she began the long trek south.

  CO-AUTHORS’ NOTE

  Cliffhanger alert! Actually, this is more of a portal-hanger. Anyway, we understand if you hate us, but we both grew up on the cliffhangers of soap operas like Melrose Place and 90210, so you can blame them for our jerkishness.

  To get this cliffhanger resolved, click here to start book #4, Enemy Territory. This book comes out about three weeks after The Candidate, so you may have to wait a teensy bit before seeing what happens next. You can also check out a preview on the following pages.

  If you have read the cliffhanger for this book and decided not to hate us, thank you! Personally, we think the world needs a little less certainty. If you can Google everything and find out spoilers right away for shows that you’re binge watching, then what is there to be excited about anymore? Hopefully you feel the same way as we do, and you haven’t tossed your device across the room.