by Pozel, Derek
Morgan stepped back and crossed her arms. “I know.”
Garrett exhaled through his lips. “Thank you, for saving me and for forgiving me.” Garrett bowed his head and turned to walk away.
“You’re welcome,” she said. “Stay safe, Garrett.”
Garrett took a step, stopped in his tracks and looked up to the clouds through the trees. “I meant what I said that night during the blizzard.”
Morgan’s lips parted with a sly smirk. “What was that?”
“I meant what I said,” Garrett whispered. “You’re even more beautiful in person, especially without the mask and wings.”
Morgan’s mouth fell open, her skin flushed with color.
“Maybe in a different world and a different time,” Garrett said over his shoulder to hide his own flushed face. “Goodbye, Morgan.”
“Goodbye, Garrett,” she whispered.
Garrett forced himself to walk away and not look back at the gorgeous superhero standing behind him with her hair swaying in the breeze. He glanced up at the sky and for the first time in over a decade, he wished for something other than revenge. Garrett shook away his daydream and focused on the path ahead. A hero had to answer for his crimes and so did he for what he had done.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The white clouds hugged the eastern horizon over Lake Michigan. A slight breeze filled the air, even 108 stories up the Willis Building. Patriot sat along the edge and kept his eyes glued shut and let the spring sun bath him in warmth. He breathed in the crisp air through his nose and held it in his lungs. Dark circles hugged his eyes, sleep only came in small doses for the aging hero nowadays.
Patriot’s wrist vibrated, glancing down he saw Zoe’s picture on the watch display. He exhaled through his mouth, puffing out his cheeks in the process. “Time to face the consequences.”
Patriot touched the watch face and his earpiece answered the call. “Hey, hon. How are you?” Patriot leaned back on his hands and peered off into the distance.
“Dad, what haven’t you told me?” she said over the phone.
“What are you talking about?” Patriot sat up. “Did Walter call you?”
“No, why would Uncle Walter call me?” Zoe said. “He came to see me last night.”
“Who came to see you?” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Garrett did. He came by our apartment and told me things. Are they true?” Zoe said.
Patriot heard the anger in her voice and the streets below began to spin.
He loosened his red and blue spotted necktie. “Crimson let him speak to you? You can’t believe him, he’s a criminal.”
“Dad, he showed me pictures of me from when I was a kid,” Zoe’s voice was firm on the other end of the line. “He showed me pictures of my family.”
“No, they’re not real,” Patriot buried his face into his hands.
“Is what he told me true? Is it!” Zoe said.
Patriot bit his lip and growled. “You can’t believe him. You’ve seen what he’s done to us, to the Assembly. He turned Walter against us. You can’t believe a word out of that monsters mouth.”
“I do believe him and so does Greg,” Zoe said. “He told me my name was Emma and he lost me to you. What happened to me? Please, you have to tell me. I have the right to know.”
Patriot shook his head and clenched his fists. “Zoe…” he found the words caught in his throat.
“What is it, what can’t you tell me,” Zoe said. “Why do I have to find this out from someone like him?”
Patriot cleared his throat. “I love you, you’re my daughter. You’ve been my daughter since you were thirteen years old,” he shivered when he spoke.
“I am Emma, aren’t I?” Zoe said.
Patriot exhaled and looked to the sky.
“Dad, are you there?” she said.
“Yes, I’m still here. It’s true,” Patriot’s voice quivered when he uttered the words. “It’s true you were Emma and now you are my Zoe. You are the new life I found in the hospital.”
He heard her sobs and his eyes swelled with tears.
“How could you?” Zoe said.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Patriot said while tears streamed down his cheeks in rivers.
“Why did you take me away? Why!” Zoe said.
“Because,” Patriot’s voice faded into the spring air. “I was a weak man who found an Afflicted girl with no memory. I needed something to ground me to the people I protected. I needed someone to look after me for once. I was alone and then you came back to life right before my eyes.”
“What do you mean I came back to life?” Zoe’s voice cracked.
Patriot slammed his fist into the black stone face of the building. It cracked under his super strength. “You’re one of us. You’re an Afflicted.”
“What are you talking about? I did die? I died?” Zoe said. “I can’t, I can’t.”
“Zoe, honey please breathe, slow down,” Patriot said and listened to her ragged breath on the other line. He stood from his seat atop the tallest building in Chicago. “I’ll be there in two minutes.”
“No, I need time. This is too much,” Zoe said. “I can’t believe you lied to me all these years?”
“I had to,” he said. “I was scared I was going to lose you. I needed to take care of you after what happened.” Patriot began to pace along the edge of the building. He looked down and saw the hard concrete of Jackson Boulevard.
“It was the fight with Coldfire wasn’t it? It’s the only fight you don’t talk about,” Zoe said.
“Yes,” Patriot swallowed hard. “Turns out, Garrett was the one who stopped him, not me.”
“Why didn’t you take me back to my family? I have a brother, a mother and a father,” she said. Patriot heard the coldness in her voice.
“I am an Afflicted,” Patriot said, “but I’m still human and I made a mistake I cannot undo. When I saw you jump awake it scared me. I made a vow to protect you, because my actions hurt you. You were a second chance to make amends for the lives that were taken. I watched over you, I raised you like you were my own flesh and blood.”
“You kept me from my real family,” Zoe said.
“I know what I did was wrong,” Patriot said. “And I would do it again in a heartbeat. You are my daughter. Maybe not by blood, but I love you as if you were a part of me. In a way you are, we are both Afflicted.”
“It’s not the same,” Zoe said. “I don’t even know who I am anymore. Am I Zoe or Emma?”
“I gave you the name Zoe because it means life,” Patriot said. “You had a new life and so did I, because I found you.”
“I understand,” Zoe said. “I want to see my real family. I want to find out who I am. Maybe, my memory will come back.”
“Maybe,” Patriot’s shoulders slumped and he curled his fingers into tight fists.
“I lost you because of him,” Patriot said.
“He lost me too,” Zoe answered. “He went after the Assembly because of me.”
“He was drawn to you when he was a boy because of your powers,” Patriot inhaled and narrowed his eyes. “I won’t forgive him for what he did to my family. Don’t forget, he hurt our people and he killed one of ours. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Of course it does,” Zoe said. “Both of you need to stop this. It has gone on long enough already. Too many people have already been hurt, because of me. Please, dad, for me.”
Her plea caused a shudder to run through Patriot’s body. His lips curved downward into a frown and he snorted through his nose. “It will end. Good-bye my little Zoe. Always remember, I love you.”
He touched the ear piece and hung up on Zoe. Patriot took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped off the roof. He hung in the air for a second before gravity took a hold of him. The Earth pulled him down to meet her. The air rushed around him, cradling him while he fell. His smart watch vibrated once again. The message he waited for flashed across the screen. It read, target si
ghted and on the move to estimated location.
“This does have to end,” Patriot said and stopped midair, 20 feet above the street. He glanced around at the gawking people and darted upward back along the way he came. A heartbroken boy had cut his tether to the humans below and he would have to pay.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Darkness inched across the eastern horizon, to reclaim the City of Chicago once again. Orange and pink painted the western sky, while the sun bid the city its daily farewell. The El rumbled throughout the neighborhood, it carried the sound of home to many people in Lincoln Park. Garrett strolled down Sheffield Avenue, hands in his pocket, eyes on the street ahead. He took notice of how empty the streets were on a perfect Sunday evening. Only flowered dogwood trees, a few random cars, quiet row houses and wrought iron fences surrounded him.
Garrett walked towards the large white stone cathedral on the corner and marveled at its beauty. The warm stone a stark contrast to the black he wore. His borrowed trench coat hid the bulletproof vest and sweat stained tee shirt. The gauntlet he stole from Shadow Guard peeked out from underneath his left sleeve.
Garrett spent the day since he left Ethan and Morgan in the woods going throughout the city’s personal points of interest. He started near his old apartment, where he took a life and almost lost his own in battle. He then walked down the street to where he had saved Valkyrie and Cannon. Garrett made his way to the rooftop in Wrigley-ville, the site of his first battle and victory with the Afflicted hero Shadow Guard. His trip of memories ended near the Art Institute, to the spot where a newsstand once stood. Where he lost Emma to his hero and where he learned he too was an Afflicted.
Garrett gripped the black wrought iron fence surrounding the cathedral. He closed his dark blue eyes and bowed his head to offer a quick prayer. Somewhere in the trees behind him, he heard a crow caw repeatedly. He had his answer.
“Oh, shut up,” he whispered and pushed himself away. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his clammy right hand and took a deep breath.
His burner phone vibrated in his right coat pocket. He struggled to dig it out because of the gauntlet on his left hand.
“Walter?” Garrett answered and glanced around the block.
“Are you safe?” Walter’s voice sounded raspy over the phone.
“Yeah, what happened to your voice?” Garrett leaned back against the wrought iron fence, watching the deserted street where his prey resided.
“Garrett, listen to me,” Walter said. “He knows you’re coming.”
A smirk twisted across Garrett’s face, his heart beat a bit faster from the news. His mind played out the battle between him and Patriot. Even in his personal thoughts, he did not know who would be the victor.
“Garrett, are you there?” Walter said.
Garrett blinked away his daydream. “I’m here. What happened?”
“I had a little visit from Patriot,” Walter said. “We had a bit of a disagreement on helping the enemy of the Assembly. Words were said, people were flung across the yard.”
“What did he do?” Garrett’s voice rose to a growl.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Walter said. “Morgan stopped by for a visit, she’s still here.”
Garrett pulled the phone away from his ear, clenched his jaw and shook his head.
“Garrett?” Walter said.
Garrett raised the phone to his ear, tapping the fence with his left hand. The sound of iron on steel vibrated through the immediate area.
“I’m here,” Garrett said.
“Focus on the task at hand,” Walter said.
“I am focused,” Garrett’s voice dropped to a low tone.
“You’re there already aren’t you?” Walter said. “I’m assuming the street is remarkably clear from any civilian traffic.”
“Yep,” Garrett glanced south down Sheffield Avenue and then up Webster Avenue. “I can’t believe he lives so close to DePaul and managed to pull off hiding here for so long.”
“He lived there before he became an Afflicted,” Walter said.
“Must be nice,” Garrett said. He tugged the coat off his shoulders and flipped it over the fence. He felt eyes on him so he surveyed the windows and rooftops to see if it was not just paranoia with a touch of nerves.
“You can still hop on the El,” Walter said. “I can find you a safe house.”
Garrett chuckled into the phone while he retightened the straps of his vest so it hugged him.
“I thought so,” Walter said.
“It’s too late, this needs to end,” Garrett shuddered when he spoke. His afflicted sense came to life with a slow crawl up his spine. “He’s here, goodbye Walter.”
The phone dropped from Garrett’s fingers. Walter’s indistinguishable voice repeated from the receiver. Garrett walked forward right down the middle of Sheffield Avenue. His right hand fiddled with joints on the gauntlet. His metal-garbed fingers flexed in preparation. With a sharp intake of breath, his body calmed, like it always did before a brawl with an Afflicted.
The figure landed with a loud crash, leaving a shallow crater in the middle of the street. Garrett shielded his face from the blast of air when it rushed him, the car windows around him exploded into shards of tempered glass.
Garrett shook his head. “That was unnecessary.”
Patriot rose from the depression he created, his hazel eyes locked on Garrett. “You!” He wore a navy blue sleeveless trench coat and matching pants. His face hidden under a blue hood; it was the signature look of the leader of the Assembly.
Patriot pulled back his blue hood and tore off his goggles, his face lined with creases. “You took her away from me!”
Garrett’s eyes fluttered open when he realized Patriot shot towards him. He dodged the straight punch, he did not move in time to avoid Patriot’s elbow. His balance shattered and a flurry of punches and roars erupted from Patriot. Garrett blocked and deflected many attacks, the few that did connect kept Garrett on defense.
“I know your weaknesses,” Patriot screamed in between his punches and kicks.
“And I know yours,” Garrett said under his breath.
Garrett stepped back and Patriot surged forward. He slipped under a right hook and noticed an opening. He unleashed a uppercut, smashing Patriot square in the chin. He followed with a left hook, the metal on the gauntlet vibrated when it slammed into the side of Patriot’s face.
“It’s me,” Garrett said.
Patriot burst back half a block with his power of flight. The surge of energy pushed Garrett in the opposite direction. Garrett steadied himself, trying to catch his breath. His face and body were already bloody and bruised from the initial attack.
“You’ve ruined everything,” Patriot floated above the street, shaking his head. “You took her away from me.”
Garrett’s body heaved as he tried to catch his breath. “You did it to yourself.”
“No, you turned her against me. You turned my best friend against me. You made my people lose faith in me,” Patriot flew to a car parked to his right. He ripped the door off with ease. His battle crazed eyes focused on Garrett. “I’ve wasted too much time on you already.”
A faint smirk spread across Garrett’s swollen lip. “I’ve wasted 15 years hating you.”
“You parasite,” Patriot roared and flung the door at Garrett.
Garrett’s eyes opened wide, instinct took control and spurred his body into motion. He dodged to his left across the hood of a car. The metal gauntlet shrieked across the hood as Garrett tried to steady himself in his escape. The car door sliced through the air where Garrett stood moments ago and broke apart when it embedded into the stone of the church.
“I lost my daughter,” Patriot shoulders slumped, his head hung low.
Garrett crouched behind the car to catch his breath. He shook away his nerves and ignored the pain. He cracked his neck and walked around the car, his hands raised and ready.
“I lost her too, remember?” Garrett raised
an eyebrow. “You killed her, you did all this, and you made me into the man I am today.”
A laugh escaped from Patriot’s snarled lips. “Don’t blame me for what you’ve done.” Patriot lifted his head. “You attacked my people to hurt me. You killed Granite. You lost control that night, not me.”
Garrett’s shoulders dropped and his head followed. He found it hard to swallow down Patriot’s words. The truth stung, it always does when it comes from the mouth of the enemy.
“We’re not that different, you and I,” Patriot said.
“You’re wrong,” Garrett’s eyes narrowed, and dropped his hands.
“Am I?” Patriot looked away. “We both do whatever it takes for our beliefs and for the ones we love. I devoted my life to protecting the people of this city. I fought, I bled and in the end 14 people had to pay with their lives for my mistakes.” Patriot turned his gaze back to Garrett. “What I do is for the greater good.”
“Where does locking up people like Amanda fit into the greater good?” Garrett said. “You could’ve saved her.”
“Her powers were too valuable,” Patriot said. “We needed her and in time, she would have been able to control her gifts. Now, she’s normal like the rest of them.” Patriot spun in mid air with his arms out. “The Assembly will have to protect her now.”
“Walter will look after her,” Garrett straightened his back. “Like how I should have protected Emma. Instead, I had to see you in action.”
Patriot scoffed. “You still don’t understand,” he said and dropped to the ground. “She never needed saving that day. She didn’t need you then and she doesn’t need you now.”
“You’re right, she doesn’t. But she needs her family,” Garrett stepped forward. “She deserves to know who she is.”
“I am her family!” Patriot’s face grew red when he screamed. “And you took her away from me.”
“You started it,” Garrett flexed his fingers. “So, let’s end this.”
“Once and for all,” Patriot surged forward once again.
Garrett was ready this time and dropped into a low stance. He ducked out of the way of a punch and countered with an uppercut into Patriot’s stomach. He followed through with a knee to the same area. A couple of jabs into Patriot’s ribs and the hero crumpled to his knees. Garrett slammed his left fist into the side of Patriot’s head to put the hero down to the ground.
