“Crazy?” Marcus finished his sentence and the young man laughed.
“Yes that’s the diplomatic word for it. Pastor Mike is definitely passionate. I’m Ross,” he held out his hand and Marcus shook it. He thought of lying but felt the compulsion to give his real name.
“Marcus.”
“Marcus, cool nice to meet you. You a coffee man?” Ross asked as he gestured towards the refreshments.
“Definitely,” Marcus answered and the two men stood to join the back of the queue.
“So what brought you along on Wednesday night?” Ross asked. “Do you know anyone in the church?”
Marcus didn’t quite know how to answer. “Nope I just, uh, just... think I saw something about it on the Internet. Thought it sounded interesting.”
“Great! That’s really good feedback to hear. We’ve been trying hard to expand our online presence,” Ross told him happily. Marcus felt bad that he had lied and given Ross false hope but it was better than the truth.
The two men made their way to the front of the queue and each got a cup of coffee, taking a few steps away from the table to clear space for the people behind them.
“I gotta admit, this isn’t exactly what I expected from church,” Marcus said.
“Again, great feedback to hear,” Ross told him. “We’re very much a ‘Come as you are’ church. Kindof a ‘No perfect people allowed’ rule.”
“Huh, that’s really cool,” Marcus didn’t lie. Ross noticed someone at the front of the church gesturing to him. It seemed like it was a slight technical emergency. Ross signalled that he would be there in one moment.
“Apologies it looks like I’m needed for a second. I’ll be right back.”
“No problem man.” Marcus was happy enough to call it a day there and head home. “I’ll quit while I’m ahead” he thought to himself. Ross left to see what the issue was and Marcus took the last sip of coffee from his plastic cup. Throwing it in the bin he turned to leave. His heart skipped a beat.
“Hello. My name’s Josiah. This is your first time isn’t it?” Officer Josiah Versette held out his hand. Marcus didn’t know what to do. He awkwardly gave him a feeble handshake.
“Uh... yeah. First time, just checking it out,” Marcus finally said. Josiah didn’t let go of his eye contact but Marcus looked just about every other direction around him.
“You hanging around for a minute?” Josiah asked coldly.
“Uh, actually I was just heading on home.” Marcus forced a fake smile.
“Shame. I would really like to chat and see what you think of the place.” Josiah kept glaring at him. Marcus felt the conviction to stay.
“Yeah. Yeah man no problem.” He finally said. “You could cut the awkwardness with a knife!” He though to himself. “Get out!”
“So what brought you to our humble little church?” Josiah interrogated.
“Oh yunno, just saw something about it online,” Marcus answered.
“Oh great, that’s good to hear.” Josiah kept eye contact. Marcus nodded and looked around him. Several cringe worthy silent moments went by before Josiah finally broke them.
“How do you know Israel?” Josiah asked bluntly. Marcus wanted the awkward silence back. He didn’t know what to say.
“Uh, sorry I actually don’t know Israels.”
“Israel is lying in a bed in South City hospital banged up from and explosion and gun fight at a building filled with all kinds of secret technology and weapons. I have been assigned to the guard rota to watch his room until he is well enough to leave and be incarcerated at PATMOS. He believes he is actually being held captive but he won’t say by whom. He has days where he can’t feel any pain and days were he is in agony. The last time I saw him he was right as rain. You were in the lobby that day.”
Marcus had no idea how to react. He looked Josiah square in the eyes.
“You ever been on the roof of that hospital?” Josiah asked. Marcus just looked at him in silence. ‘The building across the street has a pretty good surveillance system. One of the benefits of being a NBPD officer assigned to an important job like this is I get to monitor and review their tape.’
Marcus knew where this was going.
“Every day that I have been assigned to Israel’s room and he has been in no pain... these are the days that a slim African American man in his what... early thirties? Can be seen either in the lobby or lying on the roof of the hospital, which by the way is highly illegal... and downright impressive how this man can even get up there. Well, it would be impressive for someone who doesn’t have a friend in a mask who can fly.”
Marcus’ body went into an instant cold sweat.
“But for someone who does have a friend in a mask who can fly I guess it’s kinda easy.”
The two sat in silence. Marcus’ eyes were solely looking down at the floor, like a child who had been scolded. His arrest was imminent. He thought of making a bolt for the door but he knew he would never be able to get away. Josiah kept looking at him for several seconds then extended his hand again.
“You are free to leave. But my name is Josiah. Sometimes I’m officer Josiah Versette, but today I’m just Josiah.”
Marcus looked up him at him.
“Today I’m just Josiah,” he repeated. “I want to help our friend because I think he’s telling the truth. He also slipped into a coma somehow out of the blue.”
Marcus slowly took Josiah’s hand and the two men shook.
“I’m Marcus,” he finally said. “People call... people like Israel... call me The Sufferer.”
Josiah nodded. “I think I understand why Marcus. I need you to tell me about these people like Israel.”
Marcus nodded.
“Don’t need you scaring him off Jo!” Ross’ voice came from over Marcus’ shoulder. Marcus turned to him and smiled. “Sorry about that. Podcast issue. Same as every week. Like literally every single week.”
Marcus and Josiah smiled.
“No problem man. But I actually have to get going.” Marcus looked to Josiah. “Got somewhere to be.”
“He was just saying he’ll be back at the Resistance meeting this week,” Josiah told Ross. Marcus simply looked at Josiah who smiled back at him.
“Awesome man, glad to hear it,” Ross said enthusiastically.
“Yeah, looking forward to it,” Marcus said honestly, holding out his hand and shaking Ross and Josiah’s again. “I’ll get talking to you again then.”
“Alright man.” Josiah nodded.
Josiah made for the door but was stopped again by an elderly lady.
“Are you new here?” She said with a smile, grabbing Marcus’ hand to shake it. Marcus smiled broadly.
“Yes, good to meet you. I’m Marcus.”
“Marcus! A lovely name,” she responded.
“Thank you, sorry I actually have to get going here.”
“Ok son. Hopefully see you again soon.”
“You will,” he answered.
The sound guys were doing their usual sound check, making sure each wrestler had their own personal levels set on their own specific microphones to be used. The doors to the arena would open in and hour. The announcers leaned on the edge of the ring apron talking over the nights planned events with Sol.
“You really have to hit home the sheer power of Nightfall. This isn’t just any other regular title change. I want him set up to be the main guy for many months here. He’s gonna carry this company.”
“Yes,” was all the three announcers could say in response.
“Yes good. He’s our champ. It’s your job to make sure he’s the people’s champ.” Sol hammered home.
“Yes,” was the response.
“Yes,” Sol repeated.
Backstage Elaine was putting the finishing touches of her make up on. She applied thick, black eye liner and dark red lipstick. Her outfit tonight was a tight black all-in-one, showing off her slender frame.
Ronan sat in a chair in his changing room staring at the
wall.
Nightfall lay on a couch in his own, huge dressing room smiling as he looked up at the ceiling. A woman stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.
“That’s enough. Go get Elaine,” he commanded.
The woman left the room without saying a word. Nightfall waited for several moments before Elaine came through the open door.
“My Queen. You look adequate,” he told her.
“Yes,” Elaine responded.
Nightfall gestured to the door.
“Close the door.”
“Yes,” Elaine said coldly, closing the door.
“Tonight you will be sleeping with the world champion. But the number one contender will have to do for now.”
“Yes.”
Marcus couldn’t take Israel’s coma. He couldn’t ease any discomfort. He couldn’t do anything for him. He had felt people in comas before but this was different. Poisonous even. He sat in the lobby with his bottle of water on a golden sunny Sunday afternoon waiting and hoping. Waiting and hoping but not praying.
“A ridiculous notion...or... no… no praying. But how does Josiah do it? He actually heals! It’s... it’s hard to argue with that.” He thought to himself.
It was late afternoon and upstairs Israel slept and sweated. Nurses worked around the clock to keep him cool and wipe him down. His condition was getting worse.
The lobby was busiest with visitors on a Sunday. Marcus suspected it was due to a combination of people being off work and a feeling of family conviction, which always seems more powerful on a Sunday. He perked up a little bit when he saw Josiah enter the lobby through the main glass doors of the hospital. As he walked he glanced over and saw Marcus in the cafeteria but made no gesture. Marcus stared at his bottle as if he was reading the label.
When Marcus had left the church that morning he had only made it twenty yards out the door when he heard Josiah calling him from behind.
“I’m on later today. I’m sure you’re clever enough to have already realised this, but don’t try to make any contact with Israel. Don’t enquire about him. Don’t even go near his floor. If you see me make no gesture whatsoever and you’ll receive none from me. Understand?”
“Fully.” Marcus answered. It actually felt good to be spoken to like this. The last while had been so confusing and worrying that this leadership brought forth a feeling he hadn’t felt in a while; hope. Marcus felt he could trust this man. Follow this man. Josiah entered the elevator which was already half filled with people. The doors closed and he ascended the hospital floors.
Marcus felt his body tightening up. He felt this before. His bones dried up and his back ached. He cracked his knuckles as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. It wasn’t ringing, but he figured talking to himself in the canteen of the hospital might bring unwanted attention to himself. He put his phone to his ear.
“I had almost forgotten about you Stan,” he said, looking straight ahead as if talking on the phone.
“Gee thanks. You have any idea how hard you are to keep up with?” Stan’s voice whispered from somewhere beside Marcus. “I finally managed to get about ten feet away from you the other day before you rushed off again. Always rushing.”
“Apologies if I didn’t notice the invisible guy trying to get my attention. It’s been a bit of a crazy couple of weeks,” Marcus said sarcastically.
“Sorry son but it’s about to get even crazier.”
Marcus sighed. “What now? Do you know anything about Manning? Or Jessen and Greyfall?”
“I know Kennedy has something planned for Jessen but I don’t know what exactly. Even when he’s with his associates in private they speak in riddles. I don’t know anything about Manning or Greyfall. I’m finding it more and more difficult to get close to Kennedy. I don’t suppose… do you think they are still alive?”
“I have no reason to assume anything. Israel is alive, barely, which gives me hope that the others are too. Although… why wouldn’t they be here too?”
“I don’t know son. But we have to move forward with what we know for now. Where are the others? Where is Metalcore and the wrestler, Warstone? Or the ice lady?”
“Elaine and Ronan seem to only concern themselves with their careers right now. It seems they have abandoned us. We can’t seem to get to them at all. Metalcore bounces in and out of my days every now and then with no information to offer me. He seems… off. Everyone does.”
“Then I’m sorry to tell you this Marcus but you’re going to have to step up. Things are worse than ever before.”
“What’s happened?”
“It’s Kennedy. He’s completely lost his mind.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“No, you have no idea this time. He’s worse than ever before. Marcus… you have to regroup. This has to end now.”
Marcus fought back tears. “What can I do? I can’t fight! I can only take people’s pain. Unless Kennedy has a toothache I can ease for him I don’t see what I can do.”
Marcus felt a hand on his shoulder. It felt surprisingly strong and comforting.
“It’s down to you to do something son.”
Chapter 18
“Candidate one four eight. Unsuccessful all round,” Frederick informed Vincent Kennedy.
“Incinerate,” Kennedy answered his top researcher.
“Candidate nine nine seven. Potential input to the Masterpiece but chances are very slim. Unsuccessful in all other tests.”
“Incinerate.”
“Candidate fifty five. Unsuccessful all round.”
“Incinerate.”
“Candidate four one five. Masterpiece compatible only. May need to take the place of two other powers.”
“Keep for now. If fully compatible you may use her. If the other two are to be taken out, incinerate.”
“Candidates six one three and six one four. Twins. Unsuccessful all round.”
“Incinerate.”
Frederick cleared his throat. “Sir… they are infants.”
“Useless infants,” Kennedy retorted. “Incinerate.”
“Yes sir. Candidate four one four. Useful in balancing the Masterpiece moulding and Project Bullwark.”
“Ah Mr Hade. By all means make sure our golden boy feels right at home.”
“Yes sir. Candidate seven. Unsuccessful all round.”
“Incinerate.”
“That is all for today sir.”
“Good. We are late to unveil the light. Is everything ready to go?”
“I believe so sir. There is a real buzz about the building. I think it was leaked to the press already.”
“Good. We wouldn’t want our moment to go unreported. Frank?”
“Yes sir?” Frank stepped in close from the side of the room.
“Let the boys upstairs know we’re on our way. If that reporter Abigail Adams is down there send her up. I like her. She can have the exclusive.”
“I will find out sir.” Frank took out his communicator and spoke to the security downstairs.
Vince and Frederick stood up and made their way to the elevator door in the room. Vince stopped Frederick in his tracks.
“You have work to do Frederick.”
Frederick looked to Frank as if to find some answer. Frank stared at him.
“Uh sorry sir. I was going to go upstairs for the unveiling.”
“You have work to do,” was Kennedy’s answer.
Kennedy walked on, leaving Frederick on his own.
“Yes sir,” was all he could say.
Kennedy and Frank got into the elevator which already contained four armed guards. One of them spoke to him.
“Sir. Abigail Adams is downstairs. She will ride this lift up after us as requested.”
“Excellent.” Kennedy smiled.
On the roof the elevator door opened and the six men exited into the cold night air. The roof top was a buzz with some of Kennedy’s top scientists. In the middle of them all was a large metallic pyramid with a ci
rcular crown on the top. Buzzing wires and lights led from the roof to the top of the structure on all sides. Kennedy rubbed his hands with excitement.
“Say good bye to yesterday Frank. Tomorrow is today.”
Frank smiled and gestured that they move towards the control panel. Men were rushing all over the roof top for several minutes while Vincent and Frank drank tea in their padded chairs. The elevator door opened and reporter Abigail Adams and her camera man walked out, accompanied by two security guards. She immediately gawked at the structure in the middle of the roof and only walked in the direction of Kennedy by the guidance of the security, her eyes never leaving the structure.
“Miss Adams!” Vincent welcomed her.
“Mr Kennedy. Thank you, it is an honour to be requested up here like this.”
“You are welcome dear. Do you have everything you need? We are ready when you are.”
Abigail turned to her camera man who was making some adjustments on the side of his camera for several moments then gave her the thumbs up.
“We are ready Mr Kennedy.”
“Good. Lets move over here so you can get the light in the background.” Kennedy gestured just behind the reporter and they all moved into position.
“It’s a light?” she asked.
“And so much more. I will explain when we are rolling.”
“Ok sir, well… are we good to go?” Abigail asked her camera man who had his camera on this shoulder.
“Ready and rolling Abi.”
“Good. In three, two, one. I’m standing on the roof of the Skyborn building here in New Belfast with none other than the man who built it, Vincent Kennedy. Vincent, thank you for taking the time to speak with us this evening.”
“My pleasure Abigail. As you can see we are all very excited up here.”
“Well we think we might know what this is all about. Are you in a position to finally make a big announcement.”
“We are indeed. Tonight I announce to the world that its energy concerns are over forever!”
“Shhh! Look!” Manning gestured to the screen in the dining hall at PATMOS. Greyfall and Sooth looked up to see Vincent Kennedy grinning into the news camera.
In his apartment Nightfall lay on his couch with a naked Elaine wrapped around him. Not only was he watching the news but he could see the roof of the Skyborn building from his own window. The NCW championship belt rested over the side of the sofa.
The Hade War Page 17
