The Rise of Dark Flame

by Damien Benoit-Ledoux

  Using telekinesis, Dark Flame reached out to the plastic-and-cable buoy netting that demarcated and protected the docks and the submarines. He reached out with his hand and mentally pulled, ripping a long length of netting out of the water. As Blue Spekter tumbled, Dark Flame slung the netting toward the falling hero and spun it around Blue Spekter’s neck and body, wrapping him in it like a spider trapping its prey in webbing. Then, he pulled at it, tightening the strong netting around the helpless hero.

  Blue Spekter gasped, suspended in midair and unable to free himself. Dark Flame hovered closer and brought the loose end of the netting to his hand. He wrapped his fingers around the cable and pulled on it, tightening the netting around Blue Spekter’s neck. The other end remained fastened to a concrete mooring in the water near the shore.

  “You need to leave me alone, Quinn,” Dark Flame snarled, jerking the netting tighter. Blue Spekter choked and gasped for air. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a pathetic wheeze.

  Amused, Dark Flame allowed the netting to slack a little. “What was that, buddy?” he taunted.

  “And you need to learn to mind your surroundings,” Blue Spekter uttered in a loud whisper, his voice horse.

  “Huh?” Dark Flame looked around in confusion, unsure of what Blue Spekter was talking about. He’s just distracting you, finish this.

  He turned back to Blue Spekter, who smiled wickedly at him. Dark Flame frowned and tightened his grip on the netting and pulled. Then, to his surprise, Blue Spekter flew backward toward the shipyard, yanking Dark Flame with him. Dark Flame yelped as he was pulled through the air, unable to fight against Blue Spekter’s superior power of flight. A moment later, Blue Spekter connected with a power line and sent a blast of electricity through the metal cable of the wet netting. Dark Flame’s hand exploded with sparks, but he couldn’t let go.

  What the hell?

  His hand immediately felt hot and tingly. He grunted and glared at Blue Spekter, who had wrenched one of his arms free of the netting and aimed an open hand at him. Electricity arced toward him and connected with his body, completing the circuit. His body tensed as electricity zapped him, nearly rendering him unconscious.

  Dark Flame focused his telekinesis and used his mind to rip the netting out of his hand, breaking the circuit. When he was free of the electrical current, he mentally lashed out at Blue Spekter and knocked him back to the shipyard grounds. The superhero crashed through the roof of a construction depot and Dark Flame hovered in the air, watching a dust cloud rise where Blue Spekter landed. He slowly moved back-and-forth in the air, eager to pummel the hero again. “Come on, is that all you’ve got?” He taunted.

  “You need to stop. I don’t want to hurt you!” Blue Spekter yelled up from the ground.

  “Don’t tell me what to do!” Dark Flame screamed, anger coursing through his veins. Then, with speed and agility he didn’t anticipate, Blue Spekter rocketed up and over the shipyard’s dry docks, flying a wide circle around him. Dark Flame smirked, then willed himself to pursue the blue streak of light.

  Suddenly, Blue Spekter flipped around and flew right at him. Dark Flame attempted to evade the attack, but his enemy was faster. A split second later, Blue Spekter crashed into him and pummeled him backwards, repeatedly striking his face and torso. Loud bangs and blue and orange sparks of liquid energy erupted between them as each hit knocked him back twenty or more feet. Each time, Blue Spekter pounced on him and landed another punch. Finally, with one powerful strike, Blue Spekter’s fist connected with Dark Flame’s jaw and knocked him down to the river.

  Dark Flame hit the water like a cannonball, causing river water to spray up in a massive plume around him. Though the churching water slowed him as he submerged, the strong riptide grabbed him and pulled him along.

  Dark Flame choked as water fought its way into his mouth and nostrils. He held whatever breath he had and tried not to inhale, but the brackish water had already shot up his nose and burned in his sinuses. The intense pressure on his inner ear hurt like hell and he tried to swim but couldn’t figure out which way was up.

  Fly!

  He try to fly through the water, but he only succeeded in slamming his body into a rock near the bottom. A moment later, a hand grabbed at his shoulders and spun him around. He looked into Blue Spekter’s upside down face and his glowing blue eyes and then felt strong punches against his stomach. Small flashes of blue and orange light accompanied each punch that forced out what little air Dark Flame had in his lungs. He immediately noticed the bubbles traveling down his torso instead of up and away from his head.

  So, I’m upside down.

  He started fighting back, but realized he needed oxygen. Dark Flame curled his knees to his chest and then let his legs and feet spring out in front of him, kicking Blue Spekter and knocking him back just enough to reorient his body in the water and follow the bubbles up to the surface.

  I wonder if moving through water is like flying?

  He willed himself up but still had to use his arms and legs to swim to the surface. A hand grabbed at his leg and dragged him down again.

  Dammit, Quinn!

  He looked down at Blue Spekter and pulled his feet up. Then, Dark Flame kicked his ex-buddy square in the face. He heard Blue Spekter grunt in the water and watched as he exhaled bubbles into the water.

  Dark Flame wanted to tackle him, but his lungs were screaming for air. With a strong kick, he swam back to the surface and launched himself into the air. Then, he turned around and waited for Blue Spekter to follow him.

  Blue Spekter didn’t disappoint. He surged out of the water and leaped at Dark Flame, his fists ready and flying with determination. Dark Flame slapped him back with his mind, momentarily stunning the hero.

  “Come on,” he yelled, taunting his enemy. “Is that all you’ve got? Stupid water tricks and wimpy punches? My grandmother can fight better than you!” He smirked as Blue Spekter’s face twisted with anger a second before he lunged at him again.

  Just like Ira said, the pupils dilate before your opponent attacks.

  Dark Flame timed his defense and waited. As Blue Spekter’s right hook swung toward his face, he blocked the strike with his left hand and shot his right hand forward, wrapping his strong fingers around his enemy’s throat, stopping him in midair and squeezing hard. Blue Spekter’s hands clawed and grabbed at the hand and arm that immobilized him.

  “You’re never going to stop us,” Dark Flame said. A moment later, Blue Spekter’s neck veins turned black.

  Blue Spekter’s eyes popped open with surprise and agony as he gasped for air.

  “Why?” he wheezed.

  Dark Flame shook him. “Why what?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Blue Spekter whispered, the blackness spreading up his neck to his jaw.

  Dark Flame ignored the question and looked at Blue Spekter’s outfit. “What the hell are you wearing, a leotard?”

  “It’s better than purple tights!” Then, Blue Spekter extended his wet right hand and placed it in front of Dark Flame’s face.

  Dark Flame blinked with surprise as a massive stream of water pummeled his eyes, nose, and mouth, making him sputter and cough, inadvertently loosening his grip on Blue Spekter’s neck. His former friend broke free of the life-draining grasp but instead of flying away, he pulled Dark Flame toward him and spun him around, wrapping an arm around his neck in a headlock.

  “My turn,” Blue Spekter said with a threatening chill to his voice. Dark Flame wiped the water out of his eyes and blinked, then felt a rush of cold air pass over his face and body. He looked down and realized Blue Spekter was flying him straight up into the sly.

  Oh shit, if he gets too high I won’t be able to fly and fight back. Dark Flame swung his free arm and tried to break free from Blue Spekter’s grasp, but stopped when his ears popped. He realized they were over ten thousand feet in the air and rapidly climbing.

  “Let go of me!” Dark Flame shouted.

  “Poor choice of words,
buddy,” Blue Spekter replied. Then, he spun him around so they could look each other in the eye for a moment before letting him go. Momentum still carried him upward.

  “Blake! You need to know that we will not let The Order make more of us! I need you to figure out that helping Victor is wrong!”

  “I hate you!” Dark Flame screamed as he reached the apex of his ascension. Who the hell is we?

  Then, he fell and yelled with rage and fury at Quinn. The air whistled past his ears as gravity pulled him back to Portsmouth. Blue Spekter flew after him, but before he could reach him, Dark Flame ignited his body. Purple and orange flames rapidly flickered on his skin as he fell through the air, superheating and instantly vaporizing the moisture around him. From the ground, he looked like a comet or a burning object reentering the atmosphere from space. He tried to fly, but he was still too high and his power of flight wouldn’t kick in.

  Dammit.

  Through the billowing steam trailing above him as he fell, he saw Blue Spekter’s blue glow approaching, hands out, ready to grab him.

  “It’s time to end this, Dark Flame” Blue Spekter yelled at him. “You need to stop so we can get you help.”

  “I don’t need your help,” Dark Flame yelled angrily, “I don’t need anyone’s help!”

  Blue Spekter shook his head and accelerated.

  “Stay away from me!” Dark Flame shouted, his voice carrying a warning, but he didn’t know how to fight his ex-friend off at this altitude.

  Blue Spekter shook his head. “No, you’re my best friend and I’m not giving up on you!”

  Dark Flame used his telekinesis to throw several punches at Blue Spekter, but he easily deflected them.

  That’s new.

  Desperate to get away from Blue Spekter, he pulled his hands into fists, even though it meant nothing in the moment. The anger boiling inside his body exhilarated him beyond anything he had ever felt before.

  “I said, stay away from me!” he yelled. Then, a brilliant blast of orange energy shot from his eyes and slammed into Blue Spekter’s chest. Blue Spekter grunted in agony as all the bones in his chest cracked loudly and several broke, the shock of the blast instantly reversing his downward trajectory by several hundred feet. A moment later, his glowing blue eyes and body faded away and his body became limp.

  What the hell was that?

  Seconds later, gravity regained its hold on the superhero and pulled him back to the earth. Dark Flame looked behind him and saw they were falling toward the river and the Prescott Park.

  As soon as he could fly, he rocketed toward the construction materials depot in the shipyard Blue Spekter had crashed into. When he landed, he turned to watch Blue Spekter plummet to the earth. On the other side of the river, people screamed and scattered when they realized the unconscious hero would land in the middle of the park. Blue Spekter fell silently, then landed with a thud. A spray of grass and dirt exploded into the air around the shallow crater he created. Dark Flame smirked, then reached out with his mind and grabbed three rods of rebar.

  With the rebar in tow, he flew across the river to Prescott Park, where the public’s favorite hero lay unconscious and defeated. Gawkers dispersed when they saw him approach, panicking about what he might do to them.

  When he arrived, he hovered over Blue Spekter’s unmoving body for a moment. The hero had landed on his back and his arms were extended out to his sides like the crucifixion.

  Dark Flame sneered.

  Then, he bent two rods of rebar in half so they looked like the letter U. Maneuvering the bent rods of rebar into position, he inverted them so the two points aimed into the earth over Blue Spekter’s unsuspecting wrists. Then, he willed them into the earth and they slammed into place, the rebar breaking the radius and ulna bones of his arm as it sunk his wrists into the ground, holding him fast.

  Blue Spekter awoke and screamed at the excruciating pain.

  “This is the last time you’ll get in my way, Blue Spekter,” Dark Flame snarled.

  With Blue Spekter in pain, Dark Flame suspected his resistance and invulnerability would be diminished, leaving him open to physical attack. Taking the third piece of rebar, he maneuvered it into position directly over Blue Spekter’s torso.

  “Hey! Asshole!” a man yelled from the crowd.

  Amused, Dark Flame turned to see who had the gall to speak to him.

  “I don’t know what your deal is, but you’ll never be the superhero he is! You suck!” Then, the crowd nervously began to boo at him, making angry faces and giving him the thumb’s down gesture. Dark Flame grimaced, then reached out and pulled the belligerent man forward, yanking him off his feet. When the man was three inches from his face, the man’s breath hitched as he stared into Dark Flame’s orange orbs with eyes full of terror.

  “What good will your superhero be to you when he’s dead?” Dark Flame asked.

  Then, he looked at Blue Spekter’s helpless body and with a wave of his arm, jammed the third piece of rebar straight through the center of Blue Spekter’s torso. The impact made a disgusting sucking sound. People screamed in horror, but no one was louder than Blue Spekter, who howled with unspeakable agony when the rebar impaled him.

  “See if you can heal from that one, buddy,” Dark Flame said to Blue Spekter, who coughed, spraying blood on his face and neck. He was unable to speak.

  Dark Flame threw the contentious man to the ground and rolled him like a bowling ball, striking several onlookers and knocking them to the ground. Then, he yelled at the crowd. “This pathetic loser is the one you call hero? You’re all idiots who don’t deserve to live.”

  “Leave him alone, you little punk!” a woman screamed as a cup of cold ice coffee struck the back of his head, spilling its icy cold contents down his back.

  Again with the coffee?

  Dark Flame groaned and stumbled forward at the cold sensation, but he heated his body and reduced the cold coffee to vapor. He looked at the woman who threw the cup. She took a step forward and angrily pointed at him. “You’ve been given a wonderful gift most people can only dream of, but instead of doing good like Blue Spekter, you choose to act like a spoiled brat who has everything in life! Grow a set of balls and do something meaningful with your life.”

  He sneered and raised his hand toward her, igniting it with fire. The woman’s eye widened with surprise and people screamed, but before he could incinerate her, a powerful beam of white-hot energy slammed into his back. He grunted and fell forward, catching himself by dropping to his right knee. His body tensed, succumbing to the electrical current passing through him. A second, searing beam of energy connected with him as DHS agents in tactical gear pushed through the crowd and fired at him.

  What the hell are those?

  Barely able to move under the excruciating pain of the energy beams, but determined not to be knocked down as easily as he had been when Mother Superior’s goons attacked him with tasers, he scanned the park for something to use as a shield. The only thing he saw was the rebar sticking out of Blue Spekter’s belly. He grimaced and reached out, yanking the rebar up from the ground through Blue Spekter’s body, which made him cry out in pain again.

  Dark Flame rotated the metal rod in an arc and slammed the rebar into the ground between him and the nasty stun guns. The energy beams automatically shifted to the rebar because its metal was more conductive than his body. The electrical discharges created sparks that flew into the air from the rebar.

  Regaining his strength, he pushed himself to his feet and yelled at them. “This isn’t over yet!” Then, he took off and flew away from the park, crossing over into Maine.

  ❖

  Quinn

  Blue Spekter fought to remain conscious as excruciating pain seared through and overloaded his nervous system like too much candy in a hyperactive child at Halloween.

  Somehow, Dark Flame had been able to overcome their shared invulnerability and impale him. He could feel his body trying to heal, but whatever had shattered his arm bones and h
eld him down blocked the process. In addition, the tree branch or metal thing sticking out of his chest wouldn’t let his body heal itself, either.

  A woman’s voice called out, but the ringing pain in his mind blocked any sense of interpretation. He coughed again, feeling the warmth of his own blood splattering on his face.

  The rod in his chest wiggled, causing him more agony. Then, it ripped through him, this time in the reverse direction. He involuntarily yelled as new pain surged through his body. A moment later, it was replaced by an insatiable itchiness he understood to be his body healing the gaping wound in his torso.

  How did I end up on the ground? Is someone rescuing me? All I remember is Dark Flame blasting me with…I don’t know what that was.

  He could feel his healing powers pushing dirt and small rocks out of his body cavity as it mended itself.

  Now, I just have to figure out how to free my arms.

  A moment later, he sensed Dark Flame flying away. With the pain lessened, he opened his eyes and looked around. A frightened crowd had gathered, and among them, DHS agents armed with the all-too-familiar and terrifying TaseBolts.

  Crap. In my weakened condition, they could take me in without a fight. I have to get out of here before they can capture me. So much for your word, Agent Potter.

  He pulled against the rebar holding his broken wrists to the ground, but the pain in his still-healing mid-section was too much to bear.

  “Should we help him?” someone in the crowd asked.

  “No, stand back please,” one of the agents said. Several agents aimed their TaseBolts at him. “Please don’t move,” one of them ordered.

  “Hey, that guy saved us,” a bystander exclaimed.