As Alistair continued, he got a sinking feeling in his gut that something was terribly off. Soon it became more than a feeling. He saw a hazy vision of someone beating Vincent. He couldn’t make out a face. It was too dark and blurry. A streetlamp in the distance allowed him to see Vincent’s sedan in the background. Then the vision was gone.
Alistair raced around the corner to the next street over. Vincent should have been rounding the corner soon. But Alistair wasn’t waiting. He continued running down the street hoping to see Vincent round the corner in front of him. When he reached the opposite corner, he looked down the street for Vincent and spotted two men scuffling. Alistair ran as fast as he could.
As he approached, he saw Vincent on the ground, with another man on top of him. The man tried to get up and run down the street in the direction of Kaylin’s house. Vincent grabbed his leg.
“Stop,” Alistair yelled.
The man kicked Vincent a couple of times and broke free. Alistair arrived just in time to tackle Vincent’s attacker to the ground, which felt as though he had hit a brick wall. He managed to get to his feet quickly. He looked at the man, who was also standing and appeared much taller and broader than Alistair. But the Scotsman moved quicker. He kicked one of the man’s legs. The man yelled in pain.
Alistair heard Vincent yell, “Bernard, stop.”
Bernard turned and looked at Vincent. “Sorry, Vincent. I can’t.” He grabbed for Alistair, who slapped his hand away and spun around behind the man for a chokehold.
Vincent pulled his phone from his pocket and began dialing. “Yes, there is an emergency. My friend and I are being attacked—”
“No,” Bernard screamed as he flung Alistair to the ground like a rag doll. Then, he seemed to fade from existence, as though dematerializing right in front of them.
“What?” Vincent pulled the phone away from his ear. “Where did he go?”
“Projection,” Alistair panted, trying to catch his breath as he rolled to his side.
“H-he was somewhere else?” Vincent asked, struggling to speak.
“Yes and no. He duplicated himself. He can only keep it up so long.” Alistair struggled to his feet and walked over to Vincent. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.” He bent toward Vincent. “Vincent? Hey.”
Vincent lay motionless. Alistair checked for a pulse. Vincent’s face looked all beat up and covered in blood. Alistair hadn’t realized how badly he’d been hurt until now. He grabbed the phone.
“Hello, are ye still there? The man’s gone. But me friend is unconscious. I need an ambulance.”
It seemed an eternity to Alistair, as he waited for the ambulance. It finally arrived and loaded Vincent into the back. The EMTstried to assure Alistair he’d be alright, though he heard an uneasiness in their voices.
Alistair had only minor bumps and bruises but was already feeling sore all over. Still, he declined going to the hospital. Once the ambulance was on its way, he ran down the street to Kaylin’s house and beat on the door. Patty answered.
“I need you to come with me,” Alistair told her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Vincent’s on the way to the hospital. I’ve got to call Stephen. But I need ye to come with me now.”
Patty appeared rattled as she grabbed her keys and told Kaylin she’d call her later to explain. Patty drove them to the hospital. Alistair, however, had the worst job of all—calling Stephen.
****
Stephen and Bernie sat in silence at Stephen’s apartment, Bernie’s demeanor that of a scolded dog. Stephen had told him not to speak until he said otherwise.
Eight-thirty came and went with no phone call. Stephen grew concerned. The more time that passed, the harder he glared at Bernie.
“Has something happened?” Stephen asked.
Bernie didn’t say a word.
“If you know something, you better tell me.”
“I don’t know.” Bernie barely spoke louder than a whisper.
The phone rang. Stephen snatched it up from the table. “Vincent? Is Patty alright?”
Alistair spoke on the other end. “She’s fine. She’s driving.”
“Driving? Where are you going, and where’s Vincent?”
“He should be at the hospital by now. It’s a long story. EMS assured me Vincent will be okay. He was unconscious when they took him. Some bloke had attacked him. I jumped in. He was pretty big and very strong, and was projecting his body. Once Vincent called 911, the attacker vanished.”
Stephen didn’t understand. “Projecting? W-what?”
“He duplicated himself, probably for only a short time. The actual person was somewhere else.”
“Do you have any idea who he was?”
“Vincent yelled a name. Any idea who Bernard is?”
“Yeah.” Stephen found it hard to remain calm. “I know Bernard. Let me know what you find out about Vincent when you get there. I’m gonna see if I can find where Bernard is.”
Stephen hung up.
Bernie said, “Stephen, listen. I—”
“I don’t care what you want to say. Instead, you’re gonna tell me where to find Bernard.”
“I can’t do that.” Bernie straightened. “I can’t tell you where Bernard is. He’s confused. He’s my blood.”
“You misunderstood. I wasn’t asking.” Stephen began pulling thoughts, memories, and emotions from Bernie’s mind. Bernie struggled hard against it. His guard was up. However, Stephen overpowered him..
You’ll only make this more painful if you struggle. So go ahead. Struggle.
Stephen started locking onto memories of Bernard. Soon, he heard conversations. Bernie and Bernard argued about his decision to become one of the Fallen. An image of Bernie and Bernard’s meeting became clear, with a statue of Chuck Berry in the background.
“Delmar Loop.”
“No. Stephen, listen to me. If you go, one of you will die. You’ll kill him if he’s by himself.”
“By himself?” Stephen snapped.
“Yes. There’s someone else that’s been pulling his strings, controlling him. He needs help.”
“Who’s the puppet master?”
“I don’t know. I know he’s powerful. If he’s there, they’ll kill you. You can’t go.”
“I think you underestimate me. First, we’ve got to make sure you don’t have a chance to warn him.”
Stephen went back into Bernie’s mind and locked it away, leaving him fully aware of what went on around him, but unable to respond in any meaningful way. Bernie became a prisoner inside his own body as he sat in a nearly catatonic state. Only Stephen held the key.
Eventually, the Mighty would have to know. They would come get Bernie and take him, just as Alistair took Matthew and Rebound’s body somewhere else. He didn’t know where that was. Nor did he care. By the time they came to take Bernie, it would be over. Stephen would gladly free Bernie’s mind then. In spite of it all, he still loved his Uncle Bernie. When inside his mind, Stephen had felt Bernie’s pain in losing Waltz and even more pain in losing Bernard.
Chapter 19
Stephen, Patty, and Alistair waited in the room when Vincent regained consciousness.
“Hey, mukkers,” Alistair’s voice neared excitement. “I think he’s coming to.”
Vincent moved a little and grunted. He opened his eyes and began looking around the room.
“Hey, buddy. You okay?” Stephen quickly went to Vincent’s side. “Don’t try to do too much.”
“Aye, ye took a guid beating, ye did.” Alistair stood at the foot of the bed.
“Is . . . Is Patty . . .” Vincent sounded raspy.
“I’m here. I’m okay.” Patty grabbed his hand from the other side of the bed.
Vincent looked at all three, then back to Alistair. “You look like crap. Have you seen your face?”
They all chuckled.
“So, ye have to nearly die to get a sense of humor, eh?” Alistair chided back.
“I need some water,”
Vincent said.
Stephen grabbed a cup from the table next to him, poured water from the pitcher, and added a straw. “Here you go.”
“How long have I been out?” He sipped from the straw.
“A few days. You were touch and go for a while. Several broken bones, a cracked skull, and bruised organs.” Stephen moved the tray table so that Vincent could reach it. “We were worried.”
“Yeah, Vin. Ye guid now though. Right?”
Vincent seemed weak. Stephen could feel Vincent’s disappointment. He had been dreaming that a pretty nurse awaited him. What he woke up to was much different.
Don’t worry, buddy. There are a couple on this floor. I’ll let them know you’re awake. “I’ll be right back. The nurses need to know he’s awake.”
Vincent smiled wide.
“Did I just miss something?” Patty asked Vincent.
“I think we both did,” Alistair replied.
Vincent didn’t say a word but continued smiling.
After the nurse came and left, he began questioning them about what happened.
“You mean you don’t remember?” Stephen asked Vincent.
“No, not a bit.”
Alistair chimed in. “Do you remember that we were watching Patty’s house?”
“Vaguely. Stephen was concerned that someone might try to go after her.”
“Wait, I don’t understand,” Patty interjected. “Why would someone come after me?”
“Stephen?” Alistair looked to him.
“After you left, I was concerned that whoever was responsible for my visions might hurt you, or even try to kill you to keep me from knowing the truth.”
“And you thought I was in danger too?” she pointedly asked the other men.
Vincent grunted as he sat up more. “Alistair had a vision.”
“It’s true. I did,” Alistair said. “I saw Vincent and me watching ye and yer niece. I saw a struggle and blood. I wasn’t sure what would happen. I just knew we needed to be there for the best possible outcome.”
Patty massaged her scalp. “I’m not sure if I’ll get used to this. But, please, go on.”
Alistair picked up where he left off. “We took another look around the block, before calling Stephen to check in. We were supposed to meet up on the other side of the block. As I neared, I felt something was wrong. I even got flashes of images, which is something new. I rounded the corner thinking he should be coming around the corner on the opposite side. When he didn’t, I started running toward his side. When I got there, I could see the two of them struggling.”
“By the look of your face, I owe you my life.”
Alistair grinned. “Ye do. I have to say though, for someone without training, ye put up one heck of fight, against a trained warrior too. In fact, ye called 911 before ye passed out. That’s when he left. It saved my life too. So, I guess we’re even.”
“Any idea who it was?” Vincent asked.
“You really don’t remember anything, do you?” Stephen stared at Vincent. He knew it would break his heart to find out that Bernard was involved.
“Yeah, mukker. You recognized him.”
“I know him?” Vincent queried.
“We all do, Vincent. Well, you, Patty and I do.” It pained Stephen more than anyone to know the truth. For the first time since he had been at the hospital, he realized that he was going to have to fight his only real childhood friend and brother. “Bernard.”
“What? No.” Vincent’s eyes widened.
“I confirmed it with Uncle Bernie. He’s been protecting him. Bernie didn’t mean for all this to happen. But he didn’t want to lose the closest person he had to a son.”
“What about Bernie?” Vincent’s voice still sounded tired and raspy.
“I locked him in his mind. He’s with the Mighty now.”
Vincent’s stomach rumbled so loud that everyone could hear it.
“I’ll go see about breakfast. You need to try and eat something.” Stephen walked outside the room while Alistair and Vincent continued talking. Patty followed behind.
“Hey,” Patty called out to him before he had gone too far. He stopped, and Patty joined him. “I know how close you two were when you were younger. Waltz and Bernie told me stories.”
“When I found out it was him, I was so angry. I think it didn’t really settle on me that I would have to fight my oldest friend. This sucks so bad.” Stephen hung his head, looking at the floor. His mind raced with all the good times the two shared as kids—playing in the water, throwing the football, and even double dates. They had done so much together.
“Maybe you should let the Mighty handle this one.”
“No,” Stephen replied quickly. “He’s my family, my responsibility. I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”
“At what cost though? What will it do to you?”
Stephen didn’t answer. He only kissed her cheek and continued to the nurse’s station. He made sure to tell Nurse Chelsea that Vincent was awake and asking to eat. He knew Vincent preferred dark-haired women. He had seen that in the brief time he spent in Vincent’s head.
His stomach rumbled. He remembered there was a Saint Louis Bread Company not far from the hospital. The city was full of them. Stephen found it funny that something as simple as the name Saint Louis Bread Company gave him comfort. It signified home. Anywhere else, it was called Panera Bread. He walked to the nearest one and ordered two coffee drinks, several bagels, and a half-sweet tea for Patty.
When Stephen returned to the hospital, the nurse had already been in to see Vincent. She had checked his vitals and taken care of all the necessities. Alistair and Patty looked concerned yet relieved when Stephen finally walked in the room. Vincent smiled.
“I brought food. I couldn’t let Vincent eat in front of everyone and leave us to starve.”
“Thanks.” Alistair got up and grabbed a coffee and a bagel. Stephen handed Patty hers.
“Sorry, Vincent. They want to monitor what you eat for now. So you’re stuck with hospital food.” Stephen sat the bag down out of Vincent’s reach.
“Not a problem.”
Stephen began eating his bagel when he realized Vincent continued to stare at him. “I thought it wasn’t a problem.”
“The bagel is not a problem.”
“Okay. What is?”
“I want you to wait to go after Bernard,” Vincent stated, still staring at Stephen.
“What? Why?”
“He’s powerful. He took on two of us and won.”
Stephen gave Vincent a look.
“Fine. I know I am not a fighter. Still. It was too easy for him. Plus, if he is of the warrior class, that means whoever got into your head is helping him. I’m a protector. Let me help protect you.”
“I can’t do that, Vincent. This is my fight. Someone is after me. Besides, if there is any chance of saving him, it has to be me.”
Vincent motioned to Alistair and Patty. “Can you two give us the room?”
Alistair stood up. “Uh-oh, Patty. I think Stephen’s in trouble.”
“Nah, it’s just a lover’s spat,” she joked, as she followed him outside.
“Stephen, I didn’t want to say anything in front of them. But, when you and I connected, I saw things. And right now, I’m too weak to protect you. You need me.”
“What did you see?”
“Well, Mr. Cross, I saw that you still need to make a choice, the one Waltz tried so hard to get you to see. Don’t you get it? This is real, all of it.”
Stephen walked over to the window. The building’s shadow covered the rest of the rooftop below. The sun still filled the sky with light. Short sleeves and shorts provided evidence of how warm it remained.
“Stephen, I saw the struggle inside you. Somehow you feel you do not deserve what God has to offer you—forgiveness. And, that is true. None of us deserve it. Just know, your choice will either allow God to transform you into the man Waltz saw you could be or turn you into the monster you fear y
ou already are.”
Stephen said nothing. Just the mention of his own last name reminded him of a conversation he’d had with Waltz in front of the church. “I see choice,” he heard Waltz say, as though speaking from the grave.
“Yeah, I have to make a choice. It’s my choice to make though, right?” Stephen turned to look at Vincent. “I’ve got to do this. I didn’t kill Waltz. I didn’t beat you nearly to death. But it happened because of me. What if you die the next time, huh? What if it’s Alistair or . . . or Patty, God forbid? I’ve got to do this. But, I don’t like the idea that things are black and white, good or bad. There’s a lot of grey in the world too.”
“I know. I am simply reminding you of the real fight, the one inside you. I think you have used what has been going on around you to distract you from it. Maybe that is what they truly want, for you to default to their choice.”
Stephen stood silent. There was nothing else to say. Vincent might have been right. They both knew it. His mind raced, looking for anything that would give him hope. “I have to go see someone.”
“Who?” Vincent tried to sit up more
“A friend, I think. I’ll see you soon.”
Stephen stepped outside and saw Patty and Alistair waiting. “You heard?”
“Didn’t everyone?” Alistair patted him on the back.
Stephen looked at his girlfriend. He felt her worry. She had every right to feel that way. “I love you, Patty.”
“I love you too, Stephen.”
“What? Ye don’t love me?” Alistair held his arms out as though expecting a hug.
Stephen grinned. “Does anyone?” He turned and walked away.
****
It didn’t take Stephen long to get where he needed to be. He looked up at the familiar church. The first time he was there was because of a tract someone had handed him. This time, he ventured there because of words from a friend. The sun sat in the sky, somewhere between the western horizon and the zenith. The cross of the steeple cast a shadow on Stephen as he approached the doors. As expected, he found the church doors unlocked. He walked in.
“Pastor Buchanan?” Stephen looked around. The church appeared empty. He turned toward the doors to leave when no one answered. He wasn’t sure what he hoped to accomplish anyway.
Chronicles of Stephen BoxSet Page 21
