The Rise of Dark Flame

by Damien Benoit-Ledoux

  “I know you work for The Order, so we need to quit playing games and get our cards on the table. If you haven’t figured out that I’m on your side by now then we’re wasting our time, Chief. But remember, you’re the one who called me.”

  The chief pocketed her hands, and squared off with him, legs akimbo. She stared at him with hard eyes for a moment, then her expression softened.

  “Fine, let’s talk. I need your help, but I don’t trust you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m aware you killed the Hegumenia known as Mother Superior. I worked directly for her. Now, I have to deal with that pompous ass who thinks he’s God’s gift to The Order.”

  Blue Spekter shook his head. “Your beloved Order has lied to you for some time, I’m afraid. It was Dark Flame who killed Mother Superior, not me.”

  “Why should I believe that?”

  Blue Spekter relaxed his powers and all the glowing stopped. He pulled the hoodie off his head, revealing his face. He looked at Chief Applegate and she gazed upon his face with awe for the first time.

  She looked at him, amazed. “I was right, you are a kid.”

  He shrugged. “A kid with really strong morals and a solid sense of right and wrong. This is my gesture of good faith, Chief; my olive branch to you. I’ll level with you if you’ll level with me. No more games.” He extended his hand to her. “Deal?”

  She looked at his hand then raised her own and shook it. “Deal.”

  “My name is Quinn.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Chief Applegate said.

  He nodded. “First things first; I did not kill Mother Superior. I have not killed anyone, ever. That is the truth.”

  She winced and sighed. “All right. I don’t believe you’re a killer. It’s not in your eyes, now that I can see them. But, I need to know what’s going on. When we spoke last in my driveway, we agreed you would look into the orange-glowing superhuman. Did you?”

  Blue Spekter smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’ll tell you everything. It’s only a matter of time before Dark Flame does something really, really bad around here in the name of The Order. “

  “I’m listening.”

  “First, what do you know about us?”

  “Mother Superior told me you two were some kind of science experiment gone wrong and that I should do my best to make it look like I’m trying to apprehend you. The other guy kept a low profile, so I wasn’t worried about him. She didn’t expect DHS to show up. They took over and I’ve been sidelined, unable to fulfill her request.”

  “And you believe that?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Now that you know I’m a kid, do you believe The Order was experimenting on teenagers from Portsmouth?” Quinn watched the wheels turn behind the chief’s eyes.

  She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense to me.”

  “Good. Now I know you can think for yourself. Victor has been the primary contact for me for The Order. He told me you were part of The Order and fanatically loyal to Mother Superior.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “Okay. Let’s go back to Labor Day weekend. Blake—the orange guy—and I were best friends until Victor’s manipulations pulled us apart. Blake and I were camping that weekend and wandered into the orgone reactor at the Rangeley Facility.”

  “The what?” she asked.

  Quinn looked at her, confused. “Um, do you not know about the orgone reactor cores?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t believe I do.”

  “Well, there’s one in Rangeley, Maine, and there’s one in Portsmouth at the old naval prison. Supposedly, there are others around New England as well. They are massive energy collecting and conversion devices that suck orgone energy out of the air and convert it to a usable form.”

  “That sounds wildly fictitious, Quinn.”

  “Yet, here I am, a glowing blue teenager with super powers.” Quinn answered. “Anyway, while exploring the woods, Blake and I wandered into the orgone reactor and got zapped by a full charge. We were taken to a hospital, died, were resuscitated, and when we survived, we caught the attention of Mother Superior and Victor. That’s probably when you heard about us because they let us go home, but of course, we didn’t know it was The Order at that point. The doctors who treated us lied to our parents because they’re employees of The Order.”

  “You mean Dr. Madison?” Chief Applegate asked.

  “You know her?”

  “We’ve met once or twice.”

  “Well, like I said before, we were an accident, Chief. Mother Superior and The Order didn’t plan for us to happen. However, our survival and the unexpected development of super powers wildly changed The Order’s plans. At the time, Mother Superior wanted to create more of us, but Victor insisted he did not. Blake and I decided a super-human army was really bad, but unfortunately Victor had already gotten inside Blake’s head and he tricked me. I went with him to destroy the facility, but it was a trap—kind of like the one you did at the Sheraton.”

  “DHS arranged that.”

  “Whatever. Whoever. I don’t care. You can’t stop me, so we’re going to have to find common ground to work together. And don’t feed me anymore horse crap about trying to protect the city when we both know you have The Order giving you instructions in addition to the mayor and DHS.”

  She cleared her throat.

  “Which begs the question, how can somebody as smart as you get caught up in such bullshit?

  “The ideas had merit,” she admitted. “I joined because The Order presented me with a promise to help with climate control. If they obtained the ability to stop and alter destructive weather patterns, well, that was something I wanted to be a part of. I admit, The Order has an alluring, almost cultishly militant side, but I believe my police training helped me cast a blind eye to those elements.”

  “And the converse use?” Quinn asked. “Have you thought about that?

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Sheesh, these people brainwash everyone they touch. The weather modification abilities can be used for good and evil. Blake told me that Victor promised he would be a part of orgone-induced psychological warfare that will allow him to ‘take out his enemies’ and exact justice on those who exist outside of the justice system.”

  Chief Applegate scratched her face with confusion. “I’ve never heard that agenda before.”

  “Well, you just did. No matter how much you want to believe in the goodness of The Order, Victor is not our friend. He seduced and manipulated my best friend and ripped us apart. Now, Blake, aka Dark Flame, is starting to act out on his own in ways you can’t stop, which is why we’re talking; you need my help to stop him.”

  She nodded. “You are correct. Not so long ago, he nearly killed one of my officers while he was out running one night. Several women claim to have been saved by him, but he’s maimed or killed others along the way. Most of his actions seem connected to crimes, except the one where he assaulted an officer. The difference between you and him is that you either bring the perpetrators to the police or let the officers apprehend them. He acts as judge and jury and almost always lethally punishes the perpetrators. If that wasn’t enough, more and more reports are coming into the station about the orange-glowing man.”

  “Crap,” Quinn mumbled under his breath. “So, why didn’t you let Camilla mention Dark Flame in her story?”

  The chief stepped forward. “Because unlike you, he’s dangerous. Like I said before, imagine the widespread panic an official story like that would create when we tell people there’s an evil version of you.”

  “That’s going to happen anyway,” Quinn responded.

  “Of course it will, but I don’t need to incite a riot via a public announcement. This way, people will discover it as it happens and we’re working to be ready for when it hits the news networks. It’s going to be a challenge no matter what we do.”

  Quinn looked at the traffic crossing the bridge and frowned.
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  Chief Applegate looked at him intently. “Unless you have a better idea, Quinn, this is completely uncharted territory for us. We have play books for terrorism, other attacks or disasters, but we do not have a play book for superhuman destruction. We’re going to have a much bigger problem than Dark Flame if you two fight.”

  “If it comes down to a fight, Blake and I are fairly indestructible. If we get in a fight, things around us will get damaged. But that’s not all we have to worry about. Victor’s working hard to make more super-humans. You need to know I will stop at nothing to prevent The Order from making more of us. This planet cannot handle more evil super-humans.”

  The chief nodded. “Quinn, you’re going to have a problem, too. DHS is planning something that I’m not privy too, so watch your back. I suspect it will be another event like the Sheraton. They’ve brought in some futuristic looking tech and I don’t know what it does. That said, despite our mutual agreement up here, I need you to understand I may not be able to publicly endorse you with DHS breathing down my back. I may even have to work against you, but Lieutenant Doral and I will work together to ensure we can subvert DHS when legitimately possible.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Quinn responded.

  “Now, if you don’t mind, please bring me back to the ground. I hate it up here.”

  Quinn peered over the edge. “Camilla is still there. She’s leaning on the railing.”

  In the distance, someone screamed.

  “Sounds like somebody needs a hero,” Chief Applegate said, smiling for the first time.

  Quinn smiled back. “Thanks. Now, hang on.”

  The chief closed her eyes and tensed her body. Quinn chuckled as his eyes and body ignited with blue light. He moved toward her and returned her to the pier with Camilla. Then, he took off and flew in the direction of the citizen in distress.

  8 | Interogatoriilor

  Blake

  “Isn’t Darien the school bully you’ve mentioned several times?” Victor asked as they walked across the naval prison’s grounds to one of The Order’s vehicles. The afternoon sun was warm and the time had come for Blake to go on the mission Victor asked him to perform with Radoslav.

  “Yeah. A couple of days ago, he showed me a different side of his personality. Turns out his family’s got big problems like mine. I think that’s why he’s an asshole to everyone.”

  “But you’re not like that,” Victor commented.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Blake asked, noting the defensiveness in his voice. Don’t fuck with me, Victor.

  Victor chuckled. “I simply mean to say, you are nice. You have manners and respect other people. You don’t show the need to put others down to build yourself up.”

  Blake shrugged. “Maybe my parents got one thing right.”

  “I think they got more than one thing right, but that’s just my opinion.”

  Blake ignored Victor’s comment. “Apparently, our pathetic excuses for fathers are drinking buddies and my dad asked his dad to ask Darien to stalk me and report back on how I’m doing. Needless to say, he’s seen us talking and guessed you were the source of my new income and living situation.” He intentionally left out the parts where Darien surprised him and spilled the two lattes all over him…and the part where Blake telekinetically pushed him into moving traffic.

  “Does that bother you?” Victor asked.

  “No, but I figured it might bother you. I wasn’t sure if I should mention it or not; obviously I chose to mention it.” One day soon, I won’t care about playing this game with you, Victor.

  “Thank you. Like we discussed, publicly I’m your big brother. It is inevitable that people will see us together and I’m okay with that so long we never reveal who we work for.”

  “Okay.

  “And, I’m sure I don’t have to warn you about revealing your powers to him, right?”

  “I haven’t, and all things being equal, I won’t,” Blake lied.

  ❖

  Radoslav cleared his throat. “Did Victor tell you about captured man who killed himself like coward in my…how-to-say birou…office?” he asked, his voice sounding strained as their driver, Chappy, steered the black SUV off US Route 1 onto the Carter Street exit in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Radoslav sat in the front passenger seat and Blake sat in the back seat on the driver’s side. Even without super powers, Blake sensed Radoslav’s stress level rising—a surprising revelation for the otherwise unflinching, even-keeled personality the Romanian had mastered. Over the past ten minutes, the man had become fidgety and beads of sweat formed on his bald, tattooed head.

  “Radoslav?”

  “Yes?” he asked.

  “You’re sweating and anxious. Calm down.” You’re making me nervous.

  Radoslav gave Blake a quick glare, but nodded. Blake realized several days ago the man had decided to treat Dark Flame with respect despite Blake’s youth and inexperience with mafia and the criminal underground.

  “To answer your question, no, he did not,” Blake answered.

  “Okay, I was right. The man was traitor to Order.”

  “You mean he was one of ours?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. It happens. Traitors try to…how-to-say…sabotaj…oh, is same word…sabotage. They try to sabotage Order and stop Victor and other suits.”

  Blake nodded, noting Radoslav’s understanding of his place in The Order’s hierarchy.

  “Which entrance do you want?” Chappy asked. He had a higher pitched, nasally voice with a Massachusetts accent that grated on Blake.

  “Use one of the side entrances,” Radoslav answered.

  “Where the hell are we going, anyway?” Blake asked.

  “One of the power plants on the Mystic River.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll see,” Chappy chimed in. “But, I will tell you this, kid, respectfully of course.” He glanced at Radoslav, who nodded. “I’m not going in there; no fucking way. Already told Victor, too. So, this is the part where you have to pony up and protect Radoslav. They ain’t gonna like seeing him come back.”

  Come back? “I take it you worked for these people once and pissed them off before you left?” Blake asked.

  “You could say I found better opportunity,” Radoslav responded.

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Order wanted a man with my talents, Unfortunately, my previous employer refused to release me quietly. When Order threatened him, he allowed me to leave, but promised his men would shoot on sight if I showed up again—which is what we are about to do.”

  “Oh,” Blake responded. “Why exactly does The Order need people who are good at torturing people?”

  “Basically, Order offered me more money to do less work. Occasionally, I will run errands and carry out important duties, but when Victor or the Archimandrite needs answers, they call me and I am happy to help.”

  “What did you do for the organization we’re about to surprise? I assume they do not know we’re coming, right?” Blake asked.

  “You are correct, Dark Flame.” Radoslav answered. “I was, uh, how-to-say…chirurg…” he tapped on the dashboard as his mind searched for the correct English word.

  “Oh, is surgeon, or doctor. I was not like enforcers or soldiers in organization. I make big boys cry in their panties. When Big Boss thought people were snitching and going to police or skimming too much money for their pockets, I conducted, uh, how-to-say…interogatoriilor…is similar word…”

  “Interrogations?” Blake offered.

  “Yes, exactly. I conducted interrogations to discover truth of their crimes.”

  “So, more torture?” Blake asked. That’s funny, crimes in a criminal organization…

  “From certain point of view, yes.”

  “What were you doing from your point of view?” Blake asked.

  Radoslav chuckled and glanced at Chappy. “Smart boy. No one ever ask me that question.”

  Chappy nodded but kept his eyes on the afternoon traffi
c.

  Radoslav shifted in his seat and rested his elbow on the passenger door. “This is what I think I do: First, I believe in people I work for. I believe they are helping planet. Unfortunately, as you will see, my previous employer does bad things that only fill their pockets. Money isn’t everything, despite what most people think. Power is the real prize.”

  “Isn’t money power?” Blake countered.

  “Maybe, but I don’t think so. When Victor knocked on my door, I saw opportunity to make difference and stick it to Big Boss.”

  “Okay.”

  “From my perspective, I look for gaps, problems, anything or anyone that gets in way of mission. If they are snitches or tattle-tails, they threaten Order. If they are not pulling their weight, or if they want personal gain, they must be removed like a cancer—so I cut them out of the equation. This is why I say I am like chirurg…a surgeon.

  “And you did the same thing here, in Boston?”

  “Yes, but for bad people. Victor promised me that one day we will take bad people out. You will see why they need to be put down.”

  Radoslav turned slightly in his seat and looked at Blake. “Maybe that day is today; I do not know. But I do know that one day there will be uh, how-to-say…socoteală…I do not know.

  “A reckoning,” Chappy chimed in.

  Radoslav nodded. “Is good word.”

  “Why do these people need to be stopped?” Blake asked.

  “You will see,” Radoslav answered.

  Chappy pulled the SUV into one of the side gates and stopped the car near the backside of the power plant. Chappy put the car in park and said, “This is as far as I go. You guys will have to walk the rest of the way in.

  Radoslav nodded. “Is close enough. Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”

  Chappy shook his head. “No fucking way. At least this way, I’ll be able to get away if I need to.” He tapped the windshield. “Bulletproof glass.”

  “I hope you’re right, but I will take my chances and stick close to him.” He jerked his thumb toward the backseat. Then, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Are you ready to go, Dark Flame?”

  “Let’s get whatever this is over with,” Blake curtly answered. “And don’t worry, Radoslav, I’ve got your back.” He followed Radoslav into the power plant through a set of old, rusty doors that squeaked loudly when he wrenched them open.