by Bryan Cohen
Kable has powers?
Ted yanked the sharp metal out of his side, which sent even more pain through his body. He tossed the weapon in Kable's direction and used his powers to aim for a direct hit. The gleaming shard stopped in mid-air, just a few inches away from Kable's forehead. To Ted's surprise it didn't fall to the ground. It actually felt like something was pushing back against Ted's powers. As if it was an arm wrestling match for control of the object. Ted had never felt anything like it.
"What is he?"
Erica crouched low as Kable continued to approach. "I don't know."
That's when Kable invaded Ted's mind. Hundreds of voices called out at once in his head. His world became nothing but screams of terror and cries for help. He clutched at his head as if to pull the overwhelming noises out.
"Ted?!" Erica put her arm around his shoulder. "What is it?"
The sounds grew louder. He shut his eyes and concentrated on pushing away the cacophony of horror. When he opened one eye, Ted saw Erica running toward Kable. The senator blocked two punches and grabbed Erica by the throat, lifting her body above the ground.
Ted clenched his fists. "Go away!"
With that, the sounds faded from his mind. He concentrated on the muscles in Kable's arm. The senator yelped in pain as Ted broke the man's wrist. Erica fell to the ground, though she quickly did a kick-up and backed away. Much to Ted's chagrin, Kable began laughing. He looked particularly villainous with the eerie glow from the nearby portal lighting him from behind.
"But Ted, I was just having a chat with an old friend."
Kable took his good hand and pulled at his own face. As he peeled away the skin, Ted's stomach lurched. The senator tossed the mask to the ground and revealed that half of his face was red and shriveled. Ted was grossed out for sure, but the look on Erica's face worried him. Her eyes had seen it all, but apparently nothing like this. She nearly stumbled as she ran back to Ted's side.
"You need to run."
Ted flinched. "What?! We need to stop him."
Erica shook her head. "You're not ready for this. He... he's–"
Kable moved his broken wrist closer to his face. He focused intently on the injury before he flexed the hand. From what Ted could tell, he healed the injury just by looking at it.
"I'm like you, Ted." Kable grinned. "I'm a living soul, too."
Ted didn't understand. He looked to Erica. "What does he mean?"
She was near tears. "It's Adam. I thought I killed him. He's the one who's behind all of this!"
Ted recalled the story of Adam growing too powerful and Erica bringing a building down on top of him. It seems the killing didn't stick.
Kable chuckled. "My humble protector, I have you to thank for all of this. Faking my death was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Erica looked at Ted. A tear ran down her face. "Please, run."
Ted shook his head, but he wasn't sure what to say in response.
Adam moved closer. "You know, it's about time I returned the favor. Sandra had told me of your desire to die."
Suddenly Ted felt a pinch in his mind as Adam made a twisting motion. Ted saw Erica's neck turn all the way around with a loud snap as she collapsed to the ground.
His muscles shook, his mind filled with his own personal screams of agony. He bent down beside Erica and cradled her body.
"No. No, Erica. No!"
Ted searched within her mind and heart for any signs of life. There were none. The love he saw before him was broken in two. Ted gently laid Erica on the street and stood up.
Rage flashed through Ted's consciousness. Everything around him began to float up in the air. Metal stanchions, two-by-fours attached to trampled signs, and even a nearby security golf cart. Ted clapped his hands together and the items flew toward his adversary. The opponent flicked the items away with his own powers, and they went zipping by him and crashing into the ground.
Ted seethed. "I'm gonna kill you!"
He leapt off the ground and flew through the air. His head was aimed for Adam's midsection, but the senator caught him before he could make impact. Adam flew the two of them about 10 feet off the ground and threw Ted back toward the pavement. Ted halted himself a foot above the ground and barely rolled out of the way of Adam's foot as the senator propelled himself downward.
Ted reached with his powers for the senator's gunshot wounds. He tried to rip at the man who'd killed Erica and tear the flesh from his bones. He succeeded for a moment, until the senator put himself back together
Ted was about to lift the entire stage up to use it as a weapon when the senator made contact with his head. The first punch stunned him, but the next three put him on the edge of consciousness. He tried to swing back, but Adam blocked the blow with ease. Another punch to the back of Ted's head would have sent him toppling over if the senator hadn't taken a hold of his shirt. He dragged Ted toward the shimmering blue portal.
"Despite my grudge with her, she really was a good protector." Adam smiled. "You should have run."
Ted used all his facilities just to keep himself conscious. He stared into the abyss of the gateway. There was no telling what was on the other side.
I may just find out.
Adam pushed Ted high up into the air and threw him directly into the portal. Ted felt a wave of hot air as the blue surrounded him. Something stung his eyes before he completely lost consciousness.
Chapter 54
At the end of Erica's revised mission with Adam, she'd stayed near the fallen building for days. When there was no sign that the traitorous living soul was still alive, she remembered how she began to slip away. As a mission ended, so did the light soul's grip on its human body. The end was less painful than a forceful exit, but it remained similar. She'd feel something like an electric current go through her body before she was transported back to the Realm of Souls in her true form. At least, it was the closest approximation to her true form as she could get, given her miraculous existence there.
That's what Erica expected when she collapsed to the pavement. Only she wasn't dead. Erica reached for her neck, but it wasn't even sore. A bruise was beginning to form from where she'd made contact with the pavement, but otherwise she was alive and kicking.
But I heard my neck snap.
Erica pushed up to a sitting position and focused her eyes near the blue portal. She watched as Adam punched Ted multiple times in succession.
An illusion. He made me look dead so Ted would attack!
Erica tried to get to her feet in time, but it was too late. Adam lifted Ted into the air and tossed him into the portal. The living soul. Her mission. Her love. Ted disappeared before her eyes.
The senator saw Erica get to her feet and raised his eyebrows. "Now, I guess it's just you and me."
He cracked his knuckles and walked toward her. Erica suppressed her anger and steeled her mind against everything. The only way she was going to stand a chance would be to remain perfectly calm.
Out of the corner of Erica's eye, she saw something move across her field of vision. Unbeknownst to the villain, a second person had just gone through the portal.
* * *
Natalie stood at the ready. No more creatures had come their way since Travis took out the two Lychos. While he was an idiot for almost getting himself killed, she was glad to have him there. Natalie remembered her comm link and tapped at it.
"We can't really see what's going on out there. Can anyone report?"
There was radio silence for a long moment before Dhiraj piped up.
"It's not looking good, Nat."
Natalie furrowed her brow and looked at Travis. "I need specifics."
Jennifer sniffled. "Lost the comm on Ted and Erica when they got close to the portal, but the cameras... she hasn't moved."
Natalie growled. She motioned to Travis. "We've gotta help Ted."
"But what about the people?"
"Now you get a conscience? Come on!"
Natalie ran back toward the mai
n street. It looked like the aftermath of a war. Fortunately, most of the blood and guts that'd been spilled had been that of the Lychos and Draconfolk. Natalie passed by the broken staff of Sela Fortbright as she came into view of the portal. A deformed-looking Senator Kable was punching Ted in the face. She cringed. The senator lifted Ted high into the air near the portal.
"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.
