Danny shook his head. She’s not the only one.
Chapter 16
Stephen tapped on the punching bag with vigor, being careful to use only his speed, but not strength, as others went about their business inside Outpost. He had heard their thoughts and questions when he returned, each wanting to know how he was doing and what had transpired. No one asked. Patty, it seemed, had told everyone to give him some space.
He scattered kicks into his workout, again only to tap the bag. The training room did not yet have ability dampeners like the ones in Enclave. Were he to use his warrior strength, he’d have already punched holes in the bag. His mind, however, wasn’t really on the workout. Instead, he pondered the next steps. Saving the people from a lunatic reminded him that there was still work to be done. There was still good that he could and should be doing.
As he continued, he became aware that he was being watched. Colvin had come. Stephen continued his workout, wondering how long it would take before his prophet trainer spoke. After completing a three-minute round, it was Stephen who spoke first.
He spat his mouthpiece into his glove. “Come hold the bag, will you? I’d like to be able to hit it with at least normal strength without having to chase the bag around.” He grabbed a nearby water bottle for a quick sip before returning the saliva-covered plastic back to his mouth.
Colvin’s steps were barely audible as he walked across the matted floor to take his place behind the bag.
A buzzer sounded, and Stephen went back to work on the bag.
“Do you know why I’m here?” Colvin asked.
“Nope,” Stephen replied, the word garbled by his mouthpiece.
“You didn’t read my mind?”
“Nope,” was all Stephen said, which was followed by grunts as he punched the bag with ferocity.
“Benjamin wasn’t your fault, Stephen,” Colvin said, peering from behind the bag as it jerked back and forth.
“I know.” Stephen spun, landing a sidekick that shook the bag and Colvin.
“He was dead the moment he was taken. They were never gonna allow you to save him. No matter what, they would have killed him.”
“I know.”
“You have to overcome . . .” His words trailed off. “Wait, you know?”
Stephen stopped and spat his mouthpiece into his hand again. He grabbed a towel from the floor with his other hand and dabbed at the perspiration running down his face and neck, before drying his hair with it. “Yeah, I know. It’s not easy to admit. And, frankly, it sucks! But I went away to think. Something happened that made me realize there are people out there I can save. We can save. The battle is close. I feel it. Once it’s over, we can mourn for Pastor Buchanan, but not until then.”
“I heard about Charles. He had no right—”
“He’s Fallen,” Stephen informed him.
At first, Colvin just stared, scrunching his brows occasionally as he processed the information. “We have to tell the council—tell Alistair!”
“We can’t. Alistair won’t believe us, not yet. He’s being influence by his dad. He’s too close to see it. It’ll have to be plain as day before he’ll accept it. Alistair’s never really gotten along with Charles. But like all sons, he wants his father’s approval.
“If we tell the council, it could cause a split. Some would believe, others would not. I’d end up doing the exact thing Charles keeps trying to convince everyone I’m doing: dividing the Mighty and Enclave.”
“What’s the plan, then?” Colvin asked.
“We’ll focus on Fallen.”
“You can’t defeat Fallen without Enclave. Enclave can’t defeat them without you and the Outcasts.”
“I know,” Stephen replied. “I’m confident that when the time is right, we’ll come together. But I don’t think Alistair will allow it until he has no other choice. He’s set on leading Enclave. And he should be. I’m not the leader Enclave needs.” Stephen turned and nodded toward Edge and Max, who had stopped just inside the doorway. “I’m the leader they need.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Edge said. “Patty told us to come get you. She wants you to see something.”
Stephen pulled the gloves from his hands and tossed them in his bag along with the towel. He and Colvin followed the other two down the hall to what they now called the OC—short for Operations Center. There was a lot of murmuring that quickly hushed when he entered.
“What’s going on?” Stephen asked Patty.
She looked at Rex. “Go ahead.”
“There’s a storm. It’s huge, and it’s deadly.”
“Go on,” Stephen said, sensing Rex’s reluctance.
“There’s nothing we can do to stop the storm. We can be there helping people afterward, though. Fallen takes opportunities like this to cause chaos—riots, looting, murder, you name it.”
Vincent spoke up from across the room. “Is there anything we can do during the storm to help?”
“Fallen won’t be there until after the storm passes,” Rex replied.
“We’re not Fallen,” Stephen said, looking around the room. “Listen up! I know many of you may have joined me and my friends here as a result of the upcoming battle. Well, the battle isn’t here yet. But there are people right now who are in harm’s way.
“Enclave wouldn’t let some of you use your gifts to help ordinary people unless Fallen were involved. I believe this storm is the result of a fallen world, where sin has corrupted not only the hearts and minds of all people, but the very fabric of the universe. This storm brings death and destruction in its wake. And I say we go, not after the storm has passed, but now!”
He looked around the room once again. Others had filtered in from adjoining rooms and hallways. “Waltz tried to teach me that we don’t have to be in battle to do great things—good things. We only need to look around at the needs of others and act upon those needs. There”—Stephen pointed at the monitor where the storm was being tracked—“people will need help. I know we have scouts out looking for Fallen and trying to intervene where we can. I’m asking for only a few volunteers to go with me into the storm. I—”
“I’ll go with you.” Max stepped forward and held her head high. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Stephen sensed something from her that he hadn’t before: happiness. He recalled her explaining how she was cast out of Enclave for stopping ordinary burglars in an action not sanctioned by the regulations of Enclave. “Thank you,” he said.
Those remaining filled the room with what sounded like a sea of echoes until every last person had offered to go with Stephen into the storm.
****
The dark sky with its greenish hue roared and challenged from above as though angry at the presence of Stephen and his Mighty. Stephen, Edge, Vincent, and Jax made a team of four, with others—also in teams of four—scattered across the city as the storm raged. Rain mixed with hail swirled around them as Stephen listened for thoughts and emotions indicating distress.
In the street, the water level rose to calf high as the team sloshed down the road. They turned the corner at the end of the block, still scouring the neighborhood. Houses and trees alike creaked and popped with the howling of the winds. Some distance behind them, a loud boom resounded as a transformer exploded, a display of sparks and fire flying, which fell harmlessly onto the soaked street.
Lightning flashed. Thunder clapped.
“It’s hard to tell what we’re looking for,” Edge shouted above the storm. “Everyone’s inside.”
Help! Please!
Above the storm, Stephen heard a young girl’s cry coming from up ahead. He ran, looking left to right, dodging the occasional flying debris. Then he noticed that the road ahead had been washed out. What had been a drainage ditch under the road had taken over. A young woman clung to a small piece of metal pipe as the muddy waters rushed around and over her. Stephen sensed she was growing tired.
He couldn’t reach her—not without help. He looked around.
&nbs
p; “Don’t leave,” the girl cried.
“I won’t,” he yelled as he spotted a single small tree. It’s just big enough, he thought. Stephen pointed to it, yelling above the storm to Edge and Jax. “Get that tree.”
The two men ran toward the tree and pulled it free.
“Vincent, can you try to shield her from some of the water?”
“An actual shield?” he asked.
Stephen nodded.
Vincent closed his eyes. After a moment, the water started to split around the girl, piling higher on both sides, leaving what seemed only a stream—not a river—flowing directly to her. Stephen watched as the girl tried to find firm footing on the rocks underneath her. Still, the swift current was too much for her weakened legs.
Stephen jumped down next to her, his feet finding a firm foundation underneath. He grabbed the pipe, using it to balance himself. The current surprised him, even with Vincent’s shield, as it beat upon Stephen’s legs and calves. The water was rising, making his foothold even more slippery and less secure as he waited for additional help.
The girl’s hands slipped from the pipe as Stephen caught her by the waist and held her close. “We’ll get you out of here. It’s gonna be okay.”
The surrounding storm grew fiercer. The winds howled. In the distance, Stephen was sure he heard a freight train barreling toward them. For a moment he considered jumping up to the road with the girl in hand. Then he realized, with his feet being on slippery ground, that jumping wasn’t a great idea.
Red, green, and yellow leaves hovered next to them in the hole. He looked up and saw Edge and Jax holding the trunk of a small tree, roots sticking up behind them. Stephen tested the tree, which looked already damaged from the storm. It creaked, but seemed sturdy enough. He pulled his canvas tactical belt from around his waist and fastened it around the girl’s chest and the tree branches.
“I’m scared!” she shouted, squeezing Stephen tighter.
“I know. But the tree won’t hold us both. They’ll pull you up, then me.”
She didn’t move.
He reached inside her mind, soothing her rampant thoughts. “You have to go,” he told her.
She latched onto the tree and was pulled to safety, where she was unbound from the tree. Now, it was Stephen’s turn.
Lightning flashed again, followed by deafening thunder. They were in the worst of the storm. In the flashes of light, Stephen saw the source of the increased vigor of the winds—a tornado. There was no time to wait. He grabbed hold of the pipe with both hands. Using it to shore up his footing, he leaped to the surface.
“We have to go.” He looked at the young lady. “Is your house close?”
“Uh-huh.” She pointed at a sturdy-looking building down the street.
He picked her up, and they were on their way.
****
Stephen surveyed the city as the storm moved on, growing weaker by the second. Trees and power lines were down. Buildings stood, but were severely damaged. Some houses were leveled. Knee-high water covered the streets. There would be pain, suffering, mourning, and rebuilding. But the worst of the storm was over.
The other Outcasts converged on Stephen’s team near the middle of the city, taking note of the damage as they went.
“How bad is it?” Stephen asked Zander. “Have you talked with the other teams?”
“A few of them. They saved some lives—a shop owner who was nearly crushed as the roof fell in, an elderly woman trapped in her car surrounded by power lines, and several more. Boone even saved a puppy.” He pointed toward their large friend, who was being licked all over by a tiny husky. “But, overall, it sounds pretty bad and looks even worse.”
Vincent joined them. “It could have been a hundred times worse. Coming was the right thing to do. The number of lives we saved tonight, the hope you brought to this city, is a seed that will grow. You did good, Stephen.”
Stephen allowed himself a slight smile as he looked at Vincent. “We did good.”
“What now?” Zander asked.
“We need to send three teams to follow the storm. When a team gets tired, trade out with teams on standby at Outpost. We work together and minimize risks. Protect each other. We can’t help people if we’re dead.”
“And Fallen?” Zander asked.
“My team will stay along with Rex’s team.”
“That won’t be enough,” Zander replied.
“Mighty will be here. We’ll work together.”
Zander smiled. “That’s just one of the things I like about you, Stephen. Optimism.” He turned and made his way around to the other teams huddled together. Soon, three teams vanished leaving two teams of four remaining.
Except for the eight remaining, the streets were empty. Rain continued to fall and winds blew. Stephen wondered how many they had truly saved and how many more they weren’t able to get to in time. He could feel the fear flowing through the city, deeper than the water and stronger than the storm. People were afraid of what they might see when the sun came up.
Lightning flashed in the distance, shining light on the destruction for a moment. He saw people down the street, brave enough to leave safety to survey the damage. He motioned toward them as he spoke to the group. “There are people down there. A couple of you go see if they need our help.”
Vincent and Edge took only a step when Rex grabbed them both. “They need help, all right. Just not the kind you’re thinkin’ of. They’re Fallen.”
Stephen stared down the street as the growing mass of people started taking notice of their little group. “Are you certain?” Stephen asked.
“Yeah. The one in the front is Jonas. He’s a prophet. We used to be partners.”
“What’s his power?” Stephen asked.
“He can manipulate the water.”
Stephen looked down, noticing the water was rising. “Can you stop him?”
Rex spit to the side and grinned. “Glad to. He won’t see it coming.”
As Fallen moved closer, Stephen realized there were at least a hundred of them. Alistair, where are you? He looked around, hoping to see that his friend had come. It was still just his team and Rex’s, which included Max, Anthony, and Tallou.
“Stephen!”
Stephen stepped through his team to see Shannon running toward them with a large duffel bag.
“Joe says you’ll need these.” She opened the bag to reveal weapons, sticks, daggers, and batons. “And this,” she added, reaching for Escalibor and its sheath strapped across her back.
“Remind me to tell Joe he picked a great time to have a vision!” Stephen took the sword in his hand as lightning cracked overhead. Howling winds grew louder, and the water was nearly to their waists. He felt his grip tighten, as though caused by the sword in preparation for battle. He was amazed.
Pulling the sword free, he slung the scabbard across his back. Stephen held the sword high. “For the Almighty!” he cried.
Just then, lightning flashed, stretching down from the heavens and striking the tip of the blade, which glowed. The heated red metal adorned with the blue-white light gave it the appearance of deep purple flames.
With a fierce cry, he pointed the sword at the advancing army of Fallen, and lightning shot from the tip, tearing a path down the middle, leaving a trail of bodies to divide the group.
Fallen kept coming.
Stephen listened for thoughts and reached for their emotions to get a better understanding of the battle ahead. Jonas, though stone-faced, was confused, unable to understand why the water levels were lowering. Stephen grinned. “Keep it up, Rex.”
Other Fallen were angry, and some were afraid. All were filled with a hatred of some sort, driving them forward on raw emotion without the benefit of true reason.
As he continued, he heard a swelling crowd of thoughts, primal and base. He looked at Max.
“Just watch,” she said.
That was when he saw them, a huge murder of crows descending from over and around buildings int
o the mass of Fallen. Chaos ensued as Fallen swatted at them, until one Fallen let out a scream that seemed to make it harder for the birds to fly. Still, they pecked and clawed. Several Fallen were on the ground, yelling as their eyes were being plucked.
The ground began to rumble, causing the water to vibrate. Stephen searched their minds, finding that one Fallen member had the ability to make the ground move and topple buildings.
“Vincent, can you handle him?” Stephen placed an image in Vincent’s mind to help him know who to stop.
Vincent nodded.
Stephen felt Vincent’s shield go out, dampening the other man’s ability. The man knew it, too, but wasn’t sure who was responsible.
Fallen pushed through the water, yelling obscenities and taunts at Stephen and his team.
“Tallou, can you make the rain sting?”
She grinned ear to ear. “Oh, I can do more than that!” She stepped forward and held her hands high. Wind began to blow toward Fallen, carrying rain and mist with it.
Fallen fought to shield their faces while they were being pressure-washed by the sheer force. Several on the outside edges of the group were picked up and thrown into buildings.
“That’s about as good as we can ask for. We’re down to about half.”
A fireball flew from the crowd. With a blow from the sword, the ball of flames disintegrated, leaving ash to fall harmlessly into the water. Stephen felt a poking in his mind. Someone was trying to get inside. For what, he didn’t care. He followed the stream of consciousness back to the source. Knock Jonas out! Stephen planted the thought in the forefront of the person’s mind.
He watched as a middle-aged warrior turned on Jonas, striking him in the back of the head with a club. Other Fallen turned on the man, as the majority continued forward.
“Get ready,” Stephen shouted. “Hold on as long as we can.”
Fallen were in full stride, or as much as they could be in calf-deep water. Each one thirsted for blood; they didn’t care if it was Mighty or Outcast.
Just before they reached his group, Stephen shouted, “Anthony. Now!”
A flash of light shot down from the sky, radiating in all directions. Stephen and his Outcasts kept their eyes on Fallen. Fallen, however, turned their eyes from the light, trying to shield their vision. It was no use. As the light faded, Stephen realized they had seconds before Fallen would regain their sight.
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