The Works of Julius St. Clair (Novel Samplers)

by Julius St.Clair

  An Excerpt From

  The Weather Brothers Collection

  “And that’s when I set him on fire.”

  “The viewers don’t really want to talk about that,” Melissa said assuredly as she waved a hand towards her cameraman, signaling she wanted him to cut. Johnson took the contraption of his shoulder and started fiddling around with the settings. It didn’t matter if everything was digital nowadays. Filming, and especially making a documentary was never a straightforward project, and Melissa was particularly fickle. But, he knew her long enough to know when she wanted something to be erased from the raw footage. Violence had never been an interest of hers and hearing her subject talk about setting people on fire wasn’t going to survive the cutting room floor. Best to just scrap the conversation now and get ready for another take.

  “Can you roll back the film?” Melissa asked him but he gave her a firm smirk, signaling that he already had. She patted him on the shoulder lightly.

  “I love you, Johnson.”

  “Uh-huh,” he muttered as he launched the monstrosity back onto his right shoulder. Besides her atrocious tendency to tape over footage and leave nothing left for review, she was always saying how much she loved people. If it wasn’t for the fact he realized this a few days after they had met, he might have let himself develop feelings for her. Standing at five foot nothing and being a faithful shopper of all things fashion, curly dyed black hair and perfectly tanned skin accenting her emerald green eyes, she was beyond cute, and he had to admit that the first time she said she loved him, it had caught him off guard. For one second, he actually thought he had a chance with her.

  And occasionally, the thought would re-surface.

  That maybe they could have a future together that extended beyond professional.

  But not today though.

  He simply had no chance standing next to the Weather Brothers.

  “If you’re worried about fire, why are you standing next to the heat?” Benjamin Weather laughed heartily through a thick Irish accent, his muscles simply refusing to budge. Most people would have shaken jollily, but not this man. He was built like a truck.

  Johnson patted his paunch idly, nearly dropping the camera due to the loss of stability. Melissa didn’t miss a beat, turning around and glaring at him as he blushed and readjusted the equipment. Guess she didn’t love him anymore...

  “Where’s your brother, Benjamin?” Melissa asked, surveying the land. She wiped a hand over her forehead as she kept the microphone steady in the other. How were they going to ask her to meet them in the blazing heat, on the top of some random grassy knoll, and one of them had the audacity to be late?

  “He’ll be here before you know it, lass.”

  “Do you mind refraining from calling me that? I have a reputation to uphold.”

  “Sorry about that, Miss,” Benjamin chuckled and gave a quick bow. “Force of habit.”

  “You mean the fact that you and your brother have a reputation of your own. A show, to be more precise. As entertainers, you have to maintain your act at all times in the public eye.”

  “My mother couldn’t have put it any better, Ms…what is your last name again?”

  “You can just call me Melissa.”

  “Not being too friendly, are we?”

  “Can we just stick to the interview?” Melissa sighed as she wiped more perspiration from her forehead. Johnson gave a sly smirk behind the veil of his large camera. Melissa didn’t care how big a suitor’s muscles were. After all, everyone that asked her out on a date had those. Therefore her requirements for a night on the town included money and not just a cute face. A cute face, Benjamin had, but money? Not really.

  “Okay, okay,” Benjamin laughed, rubbing his massive bare chest. “What do you want to know?”

  “Why don’t you tell me how this all began?”

  “Well, when I was a wee baby, I used to enjoy the solids even over my mother’s milk. Was numbing on steak before I had teeth. Didn’t matter though. I had a taste for the –“

  “- Johnson, you’re not filming, are you?”

  “No, Melissa,” Johnson replied. “You didn’t give me the word.”

  “Sorry about that, Benjamin,” Melissa stated, turning to her subject. “We’ll have to start over. Let me rephrase the question…how did you and your brother begin this business of bounty hunting and posting the outcome on the internet? You’ve had over a couple million views on YouTube, over half of that in friends on Facebook, and that’s not even touching the extensive blog that Samuel updates on a daily basis. Basically, you two have become a reporter’s dream in only a few short months. What gave you the idea to start this endeavor?”

  “It’s simple, Miss. Though I don’t want to give the man credit…listen, if I tell you, you sure you won’t mention this in the film?”

  “I promise. This is off the record. We’ll edit the final product so that your inspiration isn’t specifically named.”

  “Good, good,” Benjamin nodded. “Well, it’s that skinny costumed freak that’s been on the tele these past few months. You know the one. Claims he’s the savior of the world or something like that.”

  “Oh!” Melissa perked up. “You mean Champion!”

  “Yes, that tiny bloke,” Benjamin said as his nose wrinkled in disgust. “He doesn’t even have an e-mail to reach him, yet every news station on the planet’s trying to become his best friend. We were the first to start fighting these monsters that’s been popping up. He comes on the scene and trashes a building and all of a sudden, everyone’s weeping over him like he’s the next boy band. It’s ridiculous.”

  Melissa had no follow up questions, which was very unlike her, but Johnson knew the truth. Before she asked the Weather Brothers if she didn’t mind them being in a documentary, she had searched high and low for the Champion, but he was known for staying out of the spotlight as much as he could. So, she settled for second tier, much to Johnson’s relief. Champion definitely had a face that made the ladies swoon.

  “Well, anyways, we decided to take on a special case for this film. Hope you got your health insurance in order. You might need it before the day is through.”

  “Yes, I’ve signed the waiver your brother provided.”

  “That piece of junk?” Benjamin snickered. “Might as well been written in crayon. Did you read what it actually said on the paper? He might have contracted you into a date with the fool.”

  “Been spitting lies behind my back, eh, baby brother?” Samuel Weather replied as he stepped out from below the hill. Like his brother, he was enormous, except he didn’t have searing cracks and canyons all over his body. Except for a foot long slash that extended from the crown of his matted hair to the tip of his collarbone, he was basically scar free, and a lot more handsome to boot.

  “You would know a lot about spitting, wouldn’t you Samuel? That’s all you do when you open your mouth. It’s no wonder the weatherman didn’t forecast rain.”

  “Maybe you should start carrying around an umbrella. At least then you can cover your ugly mug when you’re in the presence of a lady.”

  “You’re one to talk,” Benjamin snapped at him. “I have a lady vying for my arm every night while you sit all day in front of a computer, logging in chat rooms, stalking naïve little girls who believe you’re some rich gentleman with his own castle.”

  “You make me sound like I’m a predator when you’re the one lurking in the shadows like the phantom of the opera because you make old ladies cry when you’re on the street.”

  “Oh is that how it’s going to be, now? You old boot. You’re so blind that you wouldn’t know the difference between a lady and a tree if you ever saw one.”

  “I can see quite better than you, even with one eye. Besides, I don’t need to see when I’m with a lady if my hands do the talking.”

  “You perverted scallywag! You sly rascal! You know I don’t have a comeback to that one?”

  “It’s why you’re my baby brother. St
ill got some schooling to be had before you beat the best.”

  The two brothers hugged suddenly, embracing each other like they had been separated for years.

  “Seriously, Samuel. What kept you?”

  “Met a girl in the coffee shop over on Amsterdam road. A real sweetheart. Had a chat with her over Skype.”

  “Do you have a picture for your family?”

  “No, brother. But I’m supposed to be chatting with her tonight. I can enlarge her profile pic and you can get a good idea of what you’ll be jealous about.”

  “No need, brother. I have a fine lass waiting to become my misses right in front of us.”

  “Oh, my,” Samuel said, acknowledging Melissa for the first time. “Is this your girlfriend, Benji?”

  “We are not dating,” Melissa said firmly. “I just met him today.”

  “Well, he does have a tendency to spit lies. A curse put upon him since the day he was born.”

  “Don’t talk about me like I have a condition, Sammy. You’ll scare her off.”

  “The lady has already made it clear she has no desire to share face time with you, Benjamin.”

  “Boys, can we begin now?” Melissa said. Johnson could tell that she was losing her patience fast. And no one liked an angry beautiful woman in the middle of the hot sun. He’s seen it too many times before. It’s how people got sued.

  “What’s Benjamin told ya?” Samuel replied, brushing an idle hand through his black hair.

  “Not much. Can you tell me what we’re doing here today?” Melissa signaled for Johnson to continue recording.

  “Well, you know that fool, Champion? Well, back when he was seen for the second time in Kenai City, he faced off against a guy that creamed him.”

  “CREAMED!” Benjamin chipped in.

  “Champion didn’t stand a chance. Of course, no one talks about that. They gush over the speech he gave at the Oblivion building. Well, the guy he let go is still running free. We’re bringing him in.”

  “You mean the criminal known as Fence.”

  “The one and only.”

  “Wow,” Melissa said in awe. This was even better than expected. Not only were the Weather Brothers quickly gaining worldwide attention due to their quirky attitudes and abilities to apprehend the strongest out there, but they were to go toe to toe with Fence, the one man that everyone knew Champion couldn’t beat. No one talked about it because they loved the hero, but everyone still wished they could see a showdown between the two again. The best anyone captured was a grainy video from someone’s cell phone. Sure, it was only thirty seconds long, and most was of it was blurry due to the hero’s speed, but it was still one of the most watched videos…ever.

  “Can I ask you two a touchy question?”

  “Sure, go ahead, Miss.” Samuel replied. Melissa cleared her throat.

  “How are the two of you going to contend with someone like Fence? From what we’ve all seen in the videos, you manage to use your strength to subdue your opponents, but by comparison, they’ve all been rather…petty. I don’t see how you can defeat someone of Fence’s caliber.”

  “Well,” Samuel winked. “Let’s just say that we have a trick up our sleeves.”

  “We didn’t want to reveal this until the right time,” Benjamin added solemnly. “But a documentary of our strength is perfect opportunity.”

  “So you’re telling me there’s more that the home audience hasn’t seen?”

  “Of course!” Benjamin exclaimed. “We didn’t want to show off our powers because we would’ve been experimented on as kids. Why do you think Champion waited so long to show off his?”

  “So you have powers?” Melissa said. Johnson could see she was getting more and more excited with every passing moment.

  “More than that chump, Champion,” Samuel laughed, folding his arms.

  “How did you get these powers?”

  “Now that’s for another day,” Benjamin whispered, moving in closer towards her. “Why don’t we discuss this over a date?”

  “Not happening,” Melissa muttered. “Sorry.”

  “Well, now, I didn’t say I wouldn’t give you a good show in return. How about we make it interesting?”

  “Brother…” Samuel muttered. “Don’t say anything stupid.”

  “Just following your example, Sammy.”

  “I can tell when you’re about to say something stupid. The smell comes right from your brain and out your ears.”

  “Listen, Mel,” Benjamin said, motioning for Melissa to move in closer. She didn’t budge. “How about we beat up and take down Fence in five minutes. We do that. I get a date.”

  “Beat him in three and you’ll get a kiss.”

  “How about a wedding if I do it in a minute?”

  “You do it in a minute and I’ll have your children.”

  “Don’t get much better than that, bro,” Samuel laughed.

  “Can I ask my brother to help or is this by myself?”

  “By yourself, of course,” Melissa declared. “I won’t marry you if you cheat.”

  “Fine, love,” he nodded. “Samuel, when we meet Fence, you stay out of it.”

  “Will do, baby bro.”

  “So, are we ready to find this guy?”

  “You’re up, gentlemen,” Melissa replied in amusement. “Show the world what you can do.”

  The Weather Brothers flexed their pectoral muscles and started strutting in unison, marching forward to the forest just below the hill. Thankfully, it wasn’t as dense as it appeared on the outside, giving the brothers plenty of room to push branches and even trees themselves to the side. Although it was the midst of summer, somehow this forest remained dead. The sunlight still shone through, but no plant life emerged. No flowers or budding plants, birds chirping or insects crawling. The whole forest was a walking “no trespassing” sign.

  “Is this where Fence can be found?” Melissa asked. Johnson never stopped looking over his shoulder.

  “It took a lot of money and bribing for the information,” Samuel said. “But eventually we found an acquaintance of his that said he lived out here in the woods. A sorry home if you ask me.”

  “Don’t say much about his combat skills,” Benjamin replied as they walked over some leaves. Melissa noticed that the brothers weren’t even trying to be quiet. They walked with a confidence she had never seen before in the face of such danger. Even she was wary about their trek through the woods. If this was indeed Fence’s home, there was no way they could escape without someone getting hurt. It didn’t matter what waiver they signed. Most of the Weather Brothers’ targets were small-time thieves and petty criminals with powers so small, they posed no real threat to anyone. Sure, the fact they had powers made their job a little more dangerous than a police officer’s but to her knowledge, they had never faced a villain with this amount of strength.

  “So what’s the plan when we find him?” Johnson whispered. Apparently he had been thinking the same thing Melissa had. The brothers were out of their league.

  “We smash his face in,” Benjamin replied loudly, his accent echoing beyond the trees.

  “Shouldn’t we keep it down?” Melissa said. “Wouldn’t it be best if you take Fence by surprise?”

  “What would be the fun in that, lass?” Samuel chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a wee man like that. My left bicep’s bigger than his whole head.”

  “It’s not his muscles I’m worried about. It’s those chains of his.”

  “You know, brother,” Benjamin said as he kicked over a tree stump. “If this man can shoot a load of chains out his body, I wonder why he don’t just call himself Chains or something like that. It sounds a lot cooler than Fence.”

  “Way better,” Samuel laughed. “Fence makes me think of the white picket kind, with a little pup frolicking in the grass and whatnot. Meadows and sunshine.”

  “Rainbows and dandelions swaying in the breeze.”

  “Ay. A little butterfly landing on your nose.�
��

  “He probably recites poetry in the woods when no one’s looking.”

  “Takes baths by candlelight in the streams.”

  “Maybe that’s why everything’s dead.”

  The brothers laughed and patted each other on the back as a sudden crack of a whip boomed from far away. They cut their play short but the smirks on their faces never left the area.

  “Sounds like we found our prey, brother,” Samuel said. “Maybe he heard our jabs.”

  “When he meets us face to face, I’ll have a different variety for him. Mixed bag.”

  “That’s the spirit, brother. But remember your deal with the lady. We want you good and married before the day is through. Take him down quicker than a ladies’ rejection of ya.”

  “What are you doing here?” a voice called from up above. The four of them raised their heads to see their target, hanging in the air by four extended chains that sunk deep into the trees beside him. It was undeniable that this was Fence. His burly figure. His dirty and ragged visage. The colossal chains that shot out from his back, ending with a sharp blade at the tip of each one. From Melissa’s research, she heard that the blades could split into three parts, creating a claw like contraption to burrow deep into his enemies. And he could shoot out thousands of chains from his body at will. And no one could forget his speed. No one has seen Champion fight at his best, but at least in the video, one could see that he wasn’t as quick as this monster. Fence was truly a force to be reckoned with. And her only protection were the two playful men standing next to her. What had she gotten herself into?

  “I think we should back off,” Johnson suggested to Melissa. “You know, get a good vantage point…for the fight.”

  “Yeah,” she said in awe, staring in horror as two more chains erupted from Fence’s spine and planted itself into a tree in back of him, providing more support for his body.

  “We’ll maintain a safe distance,” Johnson said to Benjamin who just nodded in reply. Samuel placed a meaty hand on the cameraman’s free shoulder.

  “Run back to the hills and plains, my friend. The lighting is better there, and I promise that we’ll still give you a good show.”

  “C’mon, Melissa,” Johnson said, tapping her on the shoulder. “Best to listen to their advice.”

  “Fine,” she said, turning to Benjamin. “But don’t even think about wearing him down before you bring the fight to the plain. You get to hit him one time to knock him where we’re at, and then the bell starts. One minute. That’s all you get.”

  “Yes. Yes. I remember,” he replied. “We’ll give you a twenty second head start. Get going, lass.”

  Melissa and Johnson wasted no more time. They broke out in a full-on sprint, rushing through the trees as Samuel began the count. Johnson shook his head as he placed the camera under his arm. What were those two going to do?

  As if they heard Johnson’s very thoughts, a large boom shock waved through the treetops and a powerful wind erupted across the forest floor. A wave of leaves, debris and bark slammed against Melissa and Johnson’s back, propelling them off their feet and outside the confines of the forest. Sprawling head over heels, they skidded against the plain, creating their own lines in the grass and dirt. When they finally stopped rolling, Johnson jumped to his feet.

  “WHAT WAS THAT?”

  “Johnson…” Melissa said weakly. “Where’s the camera?”

  “Wha-“ Johnson knew the answer immediately. Looking only slightly to his right, he could see that at some point the camera had left his body and rolled along the ground just like they. It was now broken into chunks. He didn’t even bother inspecting the pieces. There was no salvaging it.

  “Looks like we’ll have to take in this fight with eyes only,” Johnson replied. Melissa unbuttoned the top of her blouse and took the headband out of her hair.

  “Then there’s no point in being professional anymore. Do you have any idea what that was?”

  “It was us, lass,” a voice called out from the tree line. “Look over to your left!”

  The two glanced over and began stepping backwards over what they saw.

  It was Fence.

  He was on one knee, climbing to his feet.

  And he was not happy.

  “You dare come to my house,” Fence muttered, “and hit me in the face, AND EXPECT FOR ME TO LET YOU LEAVE HERE ALIVE!”

  Johnson and Melissa stared in shock as Fence climbed to his feet. The Weather Brothers had hit him…but how?

  “Just let me know when the bell starts, lass!” Benjamin cried out, stepping out into view. Melissa could hardly believe what she saw. It was definitely Benjamin…but his entire body was engulfed in flames. Except…it appeared as if he wasn’t being burned at all. He just smiled from beneath the raging fire, walking forward with that same confidence he displayed earlier.

  Behind him, Samuel emerged. Nothing out of the ordinary stood out except for one thing: his muscles had grown exponentially. Nearly bursting out of its skin, his arms, chest and legs bulged at disturbing widths. With every step he took, his limbs rubbed together, but he still kept striding towards them, smirking like he had already won the battle.

  “Are you going to finish him off, baby brother?” Samuel asked. “Because my legs are chafing together and my skin’s begging to feel like you look.”

  “Maybe you should do more squats then, Sammy. Then when you transform your body, there would be more than just fat keeping your torso steady.”

  “Not everyone gets a fire to burn the calories, Benji.”

  “GUYS!!!!” Melissa screamed as Fence went on the offensive. Displaying his naturally impressive speed, he ran forward with a blade extending out from his fist. Benjamin remained still, letting the blade get dangerously close when Melissa cried out once more.

  “BELL! DING!”

  Benjamin smirked and lunged forward, catching Fence off guard and grabbing his face in one swoop. With his massive, flame engulfed hand, Benjamin threw Fence backwards, searing his face at the same time. Fence used a couple chains from his legs to plow into the ground like anchors and stop his flight. But Benjamin was wasting no time. Just as Fence stopped himself, he was already behind him, punching his back with all the force he could muster, using his flames to add on more pain. Fence cried out in rage and began sending hundreds of chains from his back at Benjamin, but he managed to dodge them all. Increasing the intensity of his flames, Benjamin caught each chain, burning every chain that came his way on impact. Moving even faster than Fence could manage, it took only half a minute for him to burn out every single chain that came his way. With nothing left emerging, he began punching Fence with his all his might, hitting his ribs and stomach like a punching bag.

  After one last powerful haymaker to the face, Fence was sent flying over to Samuel. Samuel raised a hand to slap their prey away but Benjamin shouted out for his brother to leave him alone. Samuel raised both hands, letting Fence plow into a number of trees before he skidded into a pile of dead branches. Face down in the dirt, he barely looked like he was still breathing. Benjamin smiled and willingly turned off his flames, dissipating as if the fire was composed of nothing but air. He walked over to Melissa and gave a short bow.

  “My lady,” he said. “If you would do me the honor, I would like to make an honest woman out of ya.”

  “That was less than a minute, wasn’t it?”

  “By God’s clock, yes,” Benjamin replied. “What do you say?”

  “I say that Fence is getting up as we speak. Though you still have time to secure the date.”

  “What?”

  Benjamin turned around and huffed as he saw Fence climb to his feet. Samuel stood a few yards from him, shrugging his shoulders. Benjamin began walking forward as he called out to his brother.

  “You know, you could have hit him in the head when the lady wasn’t looking. Then you’d be an uncle before the week was out.”

  “Ew,” Melissa said abruptly. Johnson just chuckled as he took in
the situation. As powerful as Fence was, Benjamin was far more. Taken by surprise or not, there was no way Fence should have been subdued so…easily. Where were these freaks coming from?

  “You told me to leave him alone, baby brother,” Samuel replied. “Are you saying that you want your elder to step in for ya?”

  “No, no,” Benjamin retorted. “I thought you would’ve figured it out on your own is all. Well, now that marriage and little Benjis are off the table, why don’t we take care of this together?”

  “It’s what we do best.”

  “Ridiculous,” Fence muttered from the side, grunting as he climbed slowly to his feet. The Weather Brothers stretched their necks to the side in unison and balled up their fists, ready for round two. Melissa called out from a safe distance as they waited for their foe to completely rise.

  “Is that all the powers you have?” Melissa called out, “or do you have more like Champion?”

  “You mean does Champion have more like us?” Samuel answered back and then turned to his brother. “Geez, why do we have to compared to him. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I mean, the guy couldn’t even take down a scrub like this one.”

  “We have loads more,” Benjamin called over. “We’re not called the Weather Brothers just because of our last names. Our powers are tied to it. Sammy’s all about the day and night. During the day, he becomes a walking tank, able to pick up a building with his bare hands and roll it across the ground like a game o’ bowling gone wrong.”

  “And Benji…” Samuel laughed. “Well, Benji’s tied to the climate and things of that nature. If it’s hot outside, he can make fire. If it’s cold, he makes water, and so on. Hail, strong winds, rain…different powers for every situation. He’s a walking jack in the box.”

  “You mean jack of all trades, brother.”

  “What I say?”

  “Jack in the box, brother. Like the chicken.”

  “Well, you look like a piece of fried chicken. No wonder I get confused. Face needs more lotion than a crocodile’s back.”

  “You’re supposed to put moisturizer on your face, brother. Doesn’t clog the pores like lotion does. If you’re going to insult me, at least get it right. Besides, I meant the toy, not the chicken. That’s why your legs rub together. You eat all that fried stuff, you start gaining muffin tops and rolly muscles. You are what you eat, Sammy.”

  “Then you should mind those foods as well, Benji. It’s horrible being behind you when you got your flames blasting at full and you got the bubble guts. You start passing gas and more than the bad guys start dying.”

  “You’re really going to discuss my flatulence in front of the lady?”

  “Well, you called me fat. That’s not too good for the self-esteem if you ask me.”

  “It’s only because I want to see you healthy, Sammy boy. You’re not getting any younger.”

  “ARE YOU TWO DONE?” Fence roared as he began strutting forward, blades in each hand as over a thousand chains began erupting from his body. Extending high into the sky, they almost blocked the sun itself, casting an ominous shade over the brothers. Sammy sucked his teeth in irritation.

  “The real question is, are you done? You took like five minutes to get up. What were we supposed to do? We get bored and we start insulting each other.”

  “Now, don’t say that, brother,” Benjamin shushed him. “We started jabbing at each other earlier when the lady was around. What’s that say about my future wife?”

  “That she’s as boring as your receding hairline.”

  “Now, that’s a low blow, Sammy. You know I try my best to take care of it. And I don’t appreciate you insulting your sister-in-law.”

  “Well, she is a little boring. Who wears a black shirt in the middle of the blazing sun?”

  “You would, brother. It’s the only way you can make yourself look slimmer.”

  “Are you really bringing up my weight again? I thought -“

  Samuel cut his words short as Benjamin suddenly went flying from where they stood. Fence had balled up fifty of his iron chains into a fist and had sucker punched the younger brother while they were distracted. Benjamin kept flying back but he activated his flames as he flew, ready to retaliate as soon as he landed.

  “So,” Fence said as his chains hovered above Samuel in the air. “Why don’t you get big?”

  “Maybe I don’t need to,” Samuel declared boldly.

  “Or you can’t,” Fence said flatly. “I heard all that day and night stuff. I figure you can’t go big when you’re under darkness. So what’s your power now, big man?”

  “I knew we’d get you talking once we loosened your jaw,” Samuel said, standing still.

  “And I’ll do my best to close yours.”

  Fence shot ten chains forward and Samuel, still smaller than his previous state, began dodging them, rolling on the ground and ducking as each swung by his head. Fence laughed as he let his body rise, a number of chains providing support under his feet. With him hanging in the air, it would be a lot harder for Samuel to reach him. Samuel huffed and charged his opponent, gripping a couple chains and beginning to climb upwards to where he could hit the soft spots. Fence shot the chains out of Samuel’s hands and sent thirty more to greet him. Samuel was in mid-air when the chains hit, blades extended. They plunged through his chest and continued extending forward as they plowed him through a nearby hill, deep into the ground.

  Fence grit his teeth as he looked around for the younger brother. It was good that he did, for Benjamin, flames and all, had somehow flanked him. Fence managed to dodge one blazing fist, but couldn’t escape the other. Benjamin hit him while he was in the air and the blow rocked him back, causing his body to teeter like a timbering tree. Benjamin landed on a couple of Fence’s anchored chains and jumped back up, hitting his opponent as hard as he could. Finally, Fence let the anchors go and they both fell to the destroyed grass.

  Fence fired off his chains like bullets and Benjamin kept them at bay, using his fists like flaming mitts, catching each chain one at a time and once again turning them into ash. Seeing his tactic wasn’t working, Fence brought a hundred more chains from his back as he continued the barrage from the front. His back chains extended high into the air, over Benjamin’s head, and looped around to hit the younger brother from behind. Benjamin divided his assault, using one fist to defend his front and the other for his back. But Fence was no amateur. He could tell the younger brother was losing momentum, and his chain production was endless. As long as he willed it, more ammunition would come.

  Benjamin cried out as a sole blade managed to plow through his right leg. It was all Fence needed. Every chain under his will descended upon the younger brother like a blanket, aiming to pierce every pore of his foe’s body. Even with his flames at maximum, Benjamin couldn’t burn every chain at once, and a few hit their mark, cutting through his skin and into his bones.

  Benjamin grit his teeth in more anger than agony as he began searing off the blades that stuck out through his body. Just as one blade swiped at his neck, Samuel returned. Though it was obvious he had been horribly wounded by Fence’s attacks, his tank-like body had definitely made a comeback. He chipped away at as many chains as he could with his bare hands, giving Benjamin some freedom, whom in turn began shooting the flames from his hands, keeping a number of stray chains at bay. Side by side, they burned and chopped away at Fence’s attacks until he had no choice but to back off, less the brothers get too close to a crippling blow.

  “What happened to you, brother?” Benjamin huffed as he seared off his gaping wounds.

  “Put me in the dark,” Samuel sighed. “Took away my strength. Then he put me underground. Only more darkness.”

  “Yeah, but don’t your senses get stronger in the dark? You should still be able to see his attacks coming.”

  “I did, but he had too many of those chains coming out of him. It’s insane. I can see why Cham-“

  “Don’t you say it, brother!” Benjam
in snapped. “I’ll shut your mouth with my bare hands before you can finish the name.”

  “Well, we need to put an end to this. He’s making us look bad.”

  “True, brother. Then let’s get serious.”

  “Is the wind strong enough, Benji?”

  “It will do. I can’t do anything fancy. But get me an opening and I’ll finish the job.”

  Fence sent out a thousand chains to meet the brothers, extending out in all directions to catch them off guard. Benjamin ran forward, using his fire to keep his front safe while Samuel defended his back. When they were only a few yards from Fence’s center, Benjamin screamed out to his brother.

  “NOW, SAMMY!”

  Samuel increased the size of his muscles to their limit and leapt with Benjamin into the air toward Fence’s torso. Samuel used his body to defend Benjamin’s right side as the younger brother’s flames evaporated into the air from one side to the other. Benjamin kept his left side defended with the last of his fire as he called upon a new power from his right arm.

  With the wind surging through his pores, a blade appeared, similar in structure to Fence’s. With it, he parried the chains that longed to attack his front. Neither brother managed to defend their back, figuring that since Fence had to extend his chains over them to target that area, they had a couple precious seconds of freedom.

  And in those few seconds, a lot happened.

  Benjamin’s fire disappeared while a second blade arrived.

  Samuel shielded the right.

  Benjamin parried the left and the front.

  And together, they lunged forward.

  Swiping away the last of the chains in his way, Benjamin managed to pierce the blade in his right hand, directly into Fence’s chest. Samuel fell to the ground, having come up against the top of their lunge, leaving Benjamin all alone, hanging onto the sword that lay deep in Fence’s chest.

  Fence laughed as he began pushing the blade out slowly with one of his internal chains, but Benjamin didn’t care. He gave a short chuckle of his own, throwing Fence into confusion.

  And then he turned on the flames.

  With the blade being a part of him, and that part plunged into Fence’s body…it was easy to put the blade on fire, precisely where Fence would feel the most pain…

  Inside of him.

  As Fence roared in agony, Benjamin increased the pressure within the fire, kindling it with his will. There was no way he was going to let go until this guy was well into unconsciousness.

  Fence held on for nearly a minute, using every one of his internal chains to block major damage to his organs or line up against his skin and nerves to minimize the burns. But eventually, even he had to succumb to the hurt, and as he fell…in his last moments of being awake, he looked Benjamin in the eyes and cursed him.

  Fence crashed to the ground in a face forward slump, only driving the blade further into his chest. He was far from dead, but the brothers didn’t care. They had won the battle.

  “HEY!” Benjamin screamed over to the two spectators. “What time is it?”

  “Quarter past six,” Johnson said, checking his watch. “Took about ten minutes.”

  “AW!” Benjamin yelled to the skies. “That was far too long.”

  “It was an impressive show,” Melissa said, walking up to the beaten brothers. “Too bad we didn’t catch any of it on tape.”

  “That’s why we carry our own,” Samuel said, waving a hand around the plains. “Ground cams, tree cams, cams on our clothes, in our hair…though I think I lost that one. Well anyways, we got the footage. Might have to do some heavy editing though.”

  “You have the fight? The whole thing?”

  “You think we’re going to leave a battle with this much epicness to you? No. No. We have fans to entertain.”

  “Of course,” Benjamin began slyly. “We could offer you some of the footage…for a price.”

  “Let me guess,” Melissa said, pursuing her lips. “A date?”

  “Children.”

  “NO!” Melissa screamed in his face and began stomping away. Johnson chuckled as he waited for her to inevitably return.

  “Brother, you aimed too high,” Samuel whispered.

  “She’s the one that brought up children in the first place. I figured it was still on her mind.”

  “She was using sarcasm, Benji. She’s too sprite to have kids just yet.”

  “She’s going to be my wife one day. You mark my words.”

  “And I don’t doubt you, dear brother. But you have to milk the cow before you make the butter.”

  “I don’t even know what that means. You’re sounding like Pa.”

  “Ah, now I really don’t have a comeback for that one.”

  “Seems we’re tied for today.”

  “OKAY!” Melissa yelled, storming back to them. “You get one date with me. And I get the footage. Do we have a deal?”

  “How about this?” Benjamin said, folding his arms. “You give me three dates, and we’ll let you document our next three battles. That way, we can get some time together.”

  Melissa glared at him, then Johnson who shrugged his shoulders. It was more interesting than hanging around the house all day watching reruns.

  “Fine,” she huffed. “Three dates for three battles, one after each, AND, we get some of that footage.”

  “Deal,” Benjamin laughed, snatching her hand and shaking it before she could blink.

  She eventually wretched her hand from him and pointed down at Fence.

  “What happens with him?”

  “Oh, Fency-boy? That is a good question…hmm…what do you think, Samuel?”

  “We let him go. Let him tell his other friends how strong we are. That way, we’ll really get some good challenges. And we’ll make sure to show the video of our win all over the world in case he gets cold feet.”

  “That, Sammy, is the best idea I’ve ever heard.”

  “But aren’t you afraid?” Johnson asked. “I mean, you guys had a hard time today. What if you end up facing someone even more powerful than him?”

  “That’s the point,” Samuel laughed as he patted his brother on the back. “Fighting’s as essential to us as breakfast.”

  “And we need our breakfast to be hearty,” Benjamin laughed.

  “No vegetables and fruits for us,” Samuel chipped in. “We need the meat.”

  “See that’s what I’m talking about,” Benjamin said, turning to face his brother. “No one said fruit can’t make a breakfast hearty. What about apples or oranges?”

  “Disgusting.”

  “You have apple juice every morning.”

  “Yeah, but it’s only 10% juice. You know how the real stuff makes me break out in hives.”

  “You’re the only human being who’s ever been allergic to juice.”

  “Well you’re the only one I know that makes girls allergic to you. You chase them off like a bad odor in the air.”

  “That’s not true. I have three dates with this lovely lady, don’t I?”

  “You had to practically threaten her. She only did it because she’s using you.”

  “Maybe I’m the one doing the using.”

  “The only thing you’re using is drugs because you’re so dumb you can’t even see how she’ll never fall in love with you.”

  “Like you can do any better?”

  “As a matter of fact I could.”

  “Oh, is that so? What about your current lady? What’s her name again? Francis?”

  Samuel hit Benjamin in the face.

  “Oh, that’s right. Don’t be ashamed, Samuel. We all know the truth. You’ve been in the closet since you were afraid of the dark.”

  “No one understands your bad analogies. It’s why you won’t get the girl.”

  “I can get the girl anytime I want. You know what? Forget Penelope. Melissa will now be my one and only. You try to take her from me then it’s like you’ll be messing with the Almighty himself.”

  “Does
the Almighty need a tic-tac right now? Because his breath smells like Lucifer’s draws!”

  The Weather Brothers began fighting each other as Johnson shook his head and chuckled. Melissa just stood there, feeling like she wanted to cry. She was no stranger to guys vying for her attention, but this was ridiculous. What had she gotten herself into?

  “Your hair looks like a dead cat!”

  “Your eyes are so tiny they look like a rat’s droppings!”

  “Your Mama’s so fat-“

  “- that’s our MAMA YOU’RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT!”

  “I’m sorry! I forgot! I just couldn’t imagine we could be related!”

  “We’re not! You’re adopted!”

  Yeah. Melissa sighed internally. It’s going to be a long day…