“Let’s go,” he said once he regained his composure. They ran for a while before hearing a commotion around the corner causing them to slow their approach. “What is it?” Edred asked since he was the only one without amplified hearing. Doryn raised his hand to stop his inquiry and listened in. It was unclear how many more soldiers MalStryker had brought with him meaning they couldn’t tell if MalJari were after them or Technology security. Regardless, they were not done fighting.
“I hear at least a dozen,” Halson stated. Ethan and Doryn both agreed. “Let’s do this,” Edred said, taking a step forward but was stopped by Doryn. “Maybe you should stay here.” Edred’s incredulous stare halted their advancement. “What? You can’t be serious!” Doryn looked at Ethan for guidance. “He’s part of this. He should come.” Doryn knew he couldn’t argue with that.
Once they turned the corner, a barrage of attacks fell upon them. Luckily, they were only human security guards with limited weapons. They made a valiant effort but in the end, the three MalJari and Edred’s training were simply too much for them. They each failed to do any damage, their battered bodies left behind. “Where are you going?” Doryn called to Ethan. “We need to get to Godrik.”
Doryn’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy? We need to get out of here!” Halson shook his head, letting Doryn know there was no use in changing Ethan’s mind. “He needs to find Godrik.” Doryn’s shock deflated, choosing reluctantly to follow the boy’s lead instead. They ran now, sprinting as fast as they could. They’re only chance would be to find Godrik and hope that MalStryker had not yet arrived.
Unfortunately, when they reached Godrik’s office, the first thing they saw was MalStryker, flanked by guards on each side, holding Godrik out by the neck. Their feet slid to an abrupt stop several meters away as they took in the scene. The contemptuous expression on MalStryker’s pale face transformed into bewilderment as soon as his eyes landed on Ethan. But the boy was prepared, if not hoping for that reaction.
“Halson, I see you’re still falling for the weak ones. You were always lousy at choosing partners,” MalStryker sneered. Halson leveled him with a vicious glare.
“Hello father,” Ethan greeted cheekily. He stepped closer, ignoring Halson and Doryn’s attempts to stop him. He faced the leader with a gleam in his eyes. “You’re not Ender,” Stryker said. While Ethan was dead, he had dreamt of Ender’s life and by extension, Ender’s father MalStryker. The memories were difficult to stomach but it made Ethan question whether the MalJari leader was aware of exactly whose DNA Godrik had used.
“Are you sure?” Ethan asked innocently. He flashed his eyes at the leader. “How about now?” Stryker seemed at a loss but soon his astonishment turned to rage as realized what Godrik had done. The hand on the doctor’s neck tightened, forcing the air out of Godrik’s lungs. “I told you to leave my son out of this!” His voice bounced off the walls, radiating through the hall. The doctor gasped and struggled for air, obviously unable to respond.
“Let him go,” Ethan said softly. “Your fight is with me.” Stryker chuckled, training his steely eyes on Ethan, but maintained his hold on Godrik. “I was told of your spirit. You certainly do not disappoint.” He squeezed Godrik’s neck harder, sharp nails ready to tear at the flesh.
“We have spent hundreds of years dominating your species and now you expect me to believe a boy, a pathetic nothing like you, will end our existence? You, Ethan Drake, are nothing but a mistake.”
He motioned to his guards, “Seize them.” Suddenly a powerful burst of air pushed Ethan back. He did his best to keep it from reaching Halson, Doryn and Edred, but his shield soon crumbled. Another burst and Ethan was on the ground with a loud thump. The soldiers worked together, strengthening their attacks as one unit making them infinitely more powerful than Ethan and his friends. The guards moved forward, encroaching on them. Halson and Doryn tried but failed to separate the six guards.
Ethan scrambled to his feet in time to block the next attack. Now, the four of them stood huddled together doing more defending than actual fighting. Ethan’s frustration was building. Each time he thought he could strike, another blow knocked him down. His limbs ached and burned but he persevered.
Suddenly one of the guards reached for Edred, dragging him away violently. “Edred!” Ethan shouted but was hit from behind, clouding his vision. He fell to his hands and knees, shaking his head to try and clear his sight. Halson was the next to fall, taking a vigorous kick to his back. He landed, face first, smashing his head on the ground. A deep groan left his lips. Doryn was now sparring against the remaining soldiers but quickly losing momentum. When Ethan tried to get up, another kick promptly sent him back down. His body was on fire, his skin prickling with soreness, his mouth filling with coppery liquid. He watched from the floor as Doryn was dealt blow after blow, staggering before eventually falling as well.
This was it. MalStryker had won. The Commissioner had won. But Ethan refused to believe that. He closed his eyes, clenched his fists and let out an inhuman roar. The animalistic sound bounced loudly off the walls, shaking the very floor he laid upon. Halson and Doryn quickly covered their ears, attempting to lessen the impact of the cry. When he opened his eyes, Ethan noticed the MalJari guards were on the floor, immobile. Taking that as his opportunity, Ethan leapt to his feet and focused his energy on the MalJari in front of him. Remembering his training at the abandoned school, he slowly raised his hands, lifting the guards off the ground at the same time. When they were sufficiently high enough, he threw them all down the hall, watching them crash against the glass doors of the surrounding laboratories.
He snapped his head back to Stryker, eyes aglow and menacing. The leader produced a large silver blade and held it to Godrik’s neck. “I’ll kill him,” Stryker threatened. Ethan didn’t understand why Stryker had the blade. Couldn’t he simply break Godrik’s neck or liquify his insides? But then Ethan realized that Stryker was probably bluffing. That or Godrik was more important than he led on. The doctor’s eyes darted everywhere in panic, as he clearly thought the threat was real. He didn’t want to die but maybe he had to. Maybe it was the only way Ethan could be free. “Do it,” he said to Stryker. “Kill me.”
Ethan shook his head vehemently. “No!” By now, Halson, Doryn and Edred were up on their feet, surrounding Ethan. “You have a choice Ethan. Give yourself up or Godrik dies.”
“He’ll kill him anyway,” Halson said spitefully. The leader glared at the MalJari boy before returning his attention to Ethan. “You’re not killing anyone else!” Ethan yelled. Stryker laughed, tightening his hold on Godrik. “And who will stop me, you? You’re nothing but an abomination! A freak! A science experiment gone wrong!”
Ethan was shaking with rage, as he had underground, only now, wearing the arm band, the anger was multiplied tenfold. Halson noticed it before anyone else. He ushered Edred and Doryn to the side, giving Ethan more room. Before they could protest, Halson gave Edred and Doryn a look of ‘trust me’ which they seemed to comprehend. “It’s you or Godrik. Make your choice.” A feeling of déjà vu hit Ethan in that moment. It was similar to the dream on the train. “There is no choice. You’ll kill us all regardless of what I choose.”
“Then let’s end this.”
Suddenly MalStryker shoved Godrik down in front of him and shot Ethan with a force so strong he flew back at least twenty feet. His vision blurred and though visibly shaken, he still got back up on his feet and leveled a shockwave fierce enough to send Stryker to the ground. Godrik shuffled on his hands and knees toward a wall, attempting to appear as small as possible. Somewhat taken by the sheer strength of the boy, Stryker gathered his energy and readied himself for another blow, however, Ethan got to him first, sending him flying through the air. His body slammed against the door to Godrik’s office, denting the frame.
Stryker was now seething, bloodied and irritated. He pushed himself off the floor and blocked Ethan’s next attack. He aimed his aggression at a new target, hoping to throw Ethan
off. Lifting Halson into the air, he launched the boy into the ceiling, letting him fall lifelessly back down. Ethan startled at the sight but as he rushed over to Halson, Stryker now had Doryn as a target. The MalJari buckled under the sheer weight of Stryker’s energy, his body giving out as various bones throughout his limbs broke and fractured.
Ethan was trying to wake Halson to no avail but Doryn’s screams brought his attention back to Stryker. The leader smiled each time he broke a bone, eliciting another yelp of pain from Doryn. Then suddenly, it was Stryker who was crying out. Ethan watched in awe as Edred pierced the knife deep into the leader’s back. But the celebration was short lived. Edred was thrown from Stryker’s body, landing hard enough to render him unconscious. Stryker reached for the knife and pulled it out swiftly, tossing it on the ground. Godrik stood up and began to move closer to his office.
“Haven’t you had enough?” Stryker asked breathlessly.
“Have you?” Ethan replied, just as winded.
Stryker snarled and jumped at the boy, elbowing him in the face. Ethan took the hit, ignoring the shooting ache in his cheek, and countered with a punch to the face. They grappled on the floor, each landing hits, both equally causing damage.
Finally, Ethan managed to straddle the leader, placing both hands around his neck. He squeezed with all his might, putting every ounce of hatred into the hold. The MalJari gasped and gulped for breath. Ethan thought he was winning until he saw Stryker’s eyes dart over to Godrik. The knife was now in the air, pointed directly at the doctor. Even on the ground, incapacitated, Stryker was still powerful enough to do that. “You will never be one of us,” Stryker sputtered. Ethan glowered at him. “I don’t want to be like you. I want to better.”
Stryker grinned as much as he could. Ethan looked up in time to see the knife plunge into Godrik’s chest. “No!” he screamed. The doctor stumbled, his body swaying before hitting his back against the wall. He slid down to the floor, his eyes wild and filled with shock. Ethan let go of Stryker and raced toward the doctor but the damage had been done. Godrik was laying on his side now, breathing shallowly as he clutched his chest. Ethan grabbed Godrik’s other hand in his own and squeezed tightly. “I’m here Godrik. You’re going to be okay.”
The words immediately felt like a lie but he spoke them anyway. He searched around frantically, knowing he was running out of time. “Help!” he yelled to no one in particular. “We’re going to get you out of here, alright? You’re going to be fine, you hear me?” Godrik smiled, revealing teeth painted red, the thick liquid seeping from his lips. His discomfort ebbed away, revealing a strange calm. Ethan’s eyes welled up knowing the doctor didn’t have long. “You’re more than I could have ever hoped for.” His face paled with defeat but his whispered words filled Ethan with a warm sensation that swam through his chest.
“Don’t talk. You need your strength. You… you have to be okay Godrik. Please! You have to be okay. I can’t do this without you!” Ethan’s pleas were muffled by the tears covering his face. He haphazardly wiped them away with his sleeve, but remained holding Godrik’s hand. The doctor asked Ethan to lean in so that he could whisper something in his ear. Ethan listened for a minute and then nodded his head.
Godrik’s eyes fell back, rendering his body still. Though he knew the doctor was gone, he refused to believe it, shaking his body, trying to coax it back to life. “Godrik please!” he cried. “No!” He laid his head upon Godrik’s chest, sobbing as he gripped the doctor’s sweater firmly in his hands. He needed more time with Godrik. It was the only way to truly understand what he was. “Please come back.”
By now Stryker had regained his mobility, standing to watch Ethan and Godrik pitifully. “You are more pathetic than I thought.” The leader’s voice cut through the air like glass. “Fawning over him like that. It’s deplorable.” Stryker stepped closer as he spoke. “To think, we had such high hopes for you. But you’re more disappointing than he ever was.”
Ethan was at his breaking point. He stood, trembling with anger and faced off with Stryker, fists clenched, eyes aglow. Arrogance cloaked the leader, seeping from every orifice as he regarded the boy with little worry. Ethan glanced around, noticing that Doryn was watching them, as well as Halson who was now awake. He thought about what Godrik had whispered to him and concentrated. He leveled Stryker with a vicious glare, focusing his energy to the one place he hadn’t thought to before.
The leader suddenly grabbed his head. “What are you doing?!” he demanded. But Ethan remained focused on his task. His body shook with exertion but the effect was welcomed. His eyes were glowing impossibly bright, the blue hue now covering his whole face. Stryker screamed in agony, dropping to his knees. “This is not possible!”
Soon, the MalJari leader’s body began to convulse forcefully, blood spilling from his eyes, running down his face. Doryn and Halson were speechless as they gawked at the sight.
Halson glanced at Ethan. He looked possessed, entranced somehow. The Ethan he knew and loved was not the one in front of him. As Stryker writhed in pain on the floor, Halson stood and walked slowly toward Ethan. He made sure not to spook the boy as there was no telling who he would turn on next. As soon as the screaming stopped, Halson checked over Stryker, verifying that he was indeed dead, but Ethan relented and remained focused.
“Ethan?” Halson asked softly. He gently placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder only to have the boy flinch. His eyes were still glowing as he fought to release himself from his state of mind. “It’s alright. He’s dead.” Ethan nodded but remained silent. He blinked rapidly, willing his eyes to return to normal. Doryn propped himself on his one good leg and breathed a sigh of relief. Ethan however, didn’t find relief. Instead, he walked over to Godrik’s body and retrieved the key hidden under his sweater. He thought back to the first time he had seen that key, wondering about its significance. He would soon find out.
“What’s that?” Halson asked. Ethan stared at Godrik, pausing to collect his thoughts. “Godrik said all the answers to my questions lie behind the lock that this opens.” Halson took the object in his hands, turning it over a few times, examining it. “I’ve never seen such a thing.”
“It’s from a long time ago.”
“Do you know where the lock is?”
Ethan glanced at the door to Godrik’s office. “I know where one is. But knowing Godrik, there are more.”
CHAPTER 25
I t wasn’t long before word travelled throughout Daventry of the disruptions taking place in the North building. Ethan stared at the blood covered ground as Godrik’s body was taken away by security personnel. At first, he wanted to fight them but Saia assured him that they would treat the doctor with respect. She arrived with several other city leaders and a small brigade of guards shortly after everything had transpired.
She was disheartened by the sight in front of her. Bodies lined the corridor alternating from human guards to MalJari, each filling the room with the smell of death. They seized anyone still breathing and removed the bodies of those who weren’t. She found Ethan and Halson hovering over Godrik’s body, protecting him. Edred stood to the side speaking to a MalJari she assumed to be Doryn. She had heard of the alien, knowing he was escorting Ethan and Halson but had never met him. He was hurt, limping and holding his arm to his body.
After medical attention was administered, Saia approached Ethan, noting the injuries to his body and face. “Did you know?” he asked, abruptly cutting off her chance to speak. “Did I know what, Ethan?” she replied. “About Danica. About her betrayal?” Saia was taken aback by the accusation. Surely, he was mistaken because she knew Danica, knew how badly she wanted Ethan to survive. There was no way she would do anything to compromise their mission. “I don’t know what you mean. You… you must be mistaken.” She shook her head firmly.
“She was there, with Preston. She led him to us.”
Saia gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.
“But she… Danica said…”
&nbs
p; “What? What did she say?” Ethan implored.
She shook her head again. “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “We should go. I know somewhere you’ll be safe.” Ethan glanced back at Halson who nodded in approval. Joined by Edred and Doryn, the group left the facility to follow Saia. A short trip led them to a warehouse near the outskirts of the city, bathed in shadows from the surrounding buildings.
“What is this place?” Halson asked. The large space was dusty, cold and appeared to be abandoned. There were broken light fixtures, fractured machinery smeared with grease, and remnants of what was once a working textiles factory. “Through here,” she said, pointing to a metal door. Below them, a set of stairs leading to an underground series of rooms. As he took the final step, he was met with a face he thought he would never see again.
“Ethan!” Caleb exclaimed. He was quickly brought into a powerful embrace which, given the high emotions of the day, he returned with fervor. “Caleb,” he whispered brokenly. Soon another set of arms enveloped him and then another. “Hadley. Abby.” It was a reunion he was happy to have.
“We were so worried about you!” Abby said. Tears fell freely from her cheeks, a sentiment echoed by the others in the group. “I’m okay,” he said to her, tightening his hold. When they finally broke free, all eyes landed on Halson and Doryn. No surprise considering their less than human appearance. At least a dozen Awakened gawked at them, afraid of seeing a MalJari up close.
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