by Nathan Howe
Lorenzo stood and slowly made his way to Anais a few feet away. They went back to back. Lorenzo pulled on the puddle on the ground. It wasn't easy, but he remade most of his shield and fist. He hoped it was enough to let them take a few out before being overwhelmed.
“You got what you were asking for,” Lorenzo said.
“Yeah. I take it back.” Anais gripped her sword and steadied it in front herself. She still appeared to be happy with the prospect of a fight. “Back up should be here any minute. We might last long enough.”
“A big might.” Frosty had never been so scared in his life. It took every ounce of courage he had not to run in terror. But he stood his ground.
“Attack!” Igniteus shouted.
All at once, the minions and Ignis Dom rushed them. Lorenzo reached deep into his reserves. Trying to find the cold. To suck the heat out of the air. Anais swung her sword, slicing several of the minions, dropping them. Lorenzo wanted to do this, not just for himself, but for Anais. Failing meant both of them wouldn't make it. It worried him they wouldn’t last long enough for help, but he wouldn’t back down. Not ever.
More minions replaced the ones that had dropped from Anais' sword. More and more arrived. The longer it took for help to arrive and the more minions that charged, the lonelier Frosty felt.
Lorenzo reached deeper into himself and the air around him than ever before. He felt the tiniest of water particles. He drew on them, bringing them to him, freezing them.
His giant ice sword formed in his hand. He'd missed it. The sword was an extension of his arm, his best attack. But he kept pulling while launching into an attack as the minions attacked, throwing fire at them. Anais ignored the fire, letting it hit her. Lorenzo dodged and evaded both the fire and the weapons they used. Several of them carried different types, from swords to wrenches. All nicked his shield, and the fire slowly melted it again, no matter how much he tapped into the cold inside him and the air around him.
No matter how many they drove off, more stepped up to take their place. How many had he brought? Lorenzo took a deep breath in. He was going to die. This was the end. It wasn’t sad or scary to Frosty—many members died saving others. It was part of the job, but he was still new. That was his only regret. He hadn’t done anything yet.
Not far away in the distance was a blur in the sky. It was moving fast. A ball of fire. A human-sized ball of fire. Lorenzo caught a glimpse of Igniteus as he tossed his ax back and forth. “Finish them!” Igniteus blurted his face quivered with anger.
But they didn't have the time. Wildfire landed next to Lorenzo and Anais. “You did well,” Wildfire said.
“Good luck. You won't save them,” Igniteus said. He laughed and slowly walked away, allowing even more Inciters to join the fray.
Wildfire's arrival rejuvenated Lorenzo, and Anais as well. They both attacked with such force they were unstoppable. Both their swords slashing and smashing all those who stepped up. Wildfire wiped out Ignis Dom in a matter of seconds. It wasn't long before more and more heroes arrived to battle from the outside.
A few short minutes after Wildfire and the others arrived, they had defeated all the Inciters. Lorenzo panted. He was beat and ready for some rest. “Where did Igniteus go?”
“Ran off like the coward he truly is,” Wildfire said. “We'll get him next time he shows up. Let's get this taken care of.”
Weeks later, Lorenzo and Anais continued to help with the roundup of the last few Inciters in Johnstown. Most had fled the city with Igniteus or had been captured in the attack on them. The two of them earned a reputation in the local Hero Coalition headquarters from the battle as being tough as nails and not flinching at the sight of Igniteus. Lorenzo wasn't sure how he felt about that. But he didn't mind them forgetting about the first time they had seen him.
Part of him enjoyed the attention, and it made him happy to be accepted. It was still tough for him being in such a hot city, but he’d make do. Lorenzo was shocked to see himself starting to like the city. Anais was a good partner and fun to be around. she helped Lorenzo not be lonely and scared in the city.
Over the weeks, many of the other heroes and even some civilians on the streets congratulated them in helping drive Igniteus out of town. It was odd, being known for more than just being an Ardent. For doing something to help. It wasn't much. They didn't capture Igniteus, he'd be back, but at least he was weakened. And Wildfire gave them more responsibility, and Lorenzo liked that as well.
“I think that is it,” Anais said as they walked back into headquarters. “The last local member of the Inciters taken into custody.”
“For now.” Lorenzo shrugged. He worried that the next time Igniteus showed up, it would end in a real fight, one with him joining, and killing many, many people.
The Stone of Azuria
James
Whoosh. The powerful wind pushed against James’s back, his hair fell in his face. This wind was familiar to James, not a standard wind gust. He peeked up in time and saw one of the many superheroes that lived in Cynosure fly overhead. Bright pink with subtle hints of black meant it could only be Gravitation Woman, one of the members that patrolled this part of Cynosure. The city was broken up into five parts because of the rivers that flowed into the center and formed an island.
James' feet dragged as he walked to his apartment off campus that he shared with his cousin David. The evening air cool, the Sun sets behind him. His shadow was drawn out to match his mood. It was one of those days where nothing worked out.
The campus was old, built back when the city sprung up, not long after the battle that saved earth over five hundred years ago. The buildings were old red brick but well maintained. None on the campus was especially significant, that's what James liked about it most. Many of the buildings had large flowing windows. James spent many hours staring out them, dreaming. Street lights flickered on, the electronic hum of them sounded around James.
Cynosure arose after the cataclysm to become the largest city in Ensurift (the country that formed in what used to be America). Cynosure was the unofficial Ardent center, people with powers, capital of the world because it has the biggest and best training center for the coalition. Both good and evil Ardents flock here to forge a name for themselves.
With that in mind, James didn't want to be out late. He increased his pace in fear of being caught by one of the not so friendly Ardents. His immediate family wasn't Ardents, unlike his extended family. They had powers to protect themselves. James pined to be an Ardent.
David was on his way back from training for the Hero Coalition at the center of the island, downtown. The coalition was made up of the best and brightest Ardents. David was supposed to meet James as he left his class, but he wasn't there. James expected David to be late, training ran late often.
James continued on to his apartment, only a few blocks off campus. He tried to walk as fast as possible without drawing attention to himself. Hunching over, looking small and unthreatening. That wasn't easy, James was over six feet tall and worked out regularly at the campus gym. Yet it was for naught against an Ardent.
James stumbled forward when he was pushed from behind. He spun around with wide eyes and a sneer. David stood behind him laughing. “The look on your face.”
“Not funny,” James said fuming, his heart raced. Sweat covered his palms. “You could have been an evil Ardent.”
David's smirk went away, and he shrugged. “I don't think a crazy Ardent would just push you. But point taken Cuz.”
As if to erase James worries, David raised his hand, a twelve pack of their favorite beer. “Figured we'd begin the weekend off right.”
James sighed. Excellent, he thought. After the scare David gave. A few beers to take the edge off were what the doctor ordered. “Works for me.”
“Sweet, it's going to be epic, no training, and no school stuff.”
James nodded. They didn't have any pressing concerns for school. Which meant letting go. “What's the plan?” James asked as they
rounded the final corner before their apartment.
David paused. “Do you smell that?” David's nostrils flared.
James shook his head. “Nope.”
“I smell death,” David said and handed James the beer and stepped forward. “Rotting flesh.”
Now the odor slapped James’s senses. The most pungent scent he ever experienced, death, the best description for it. That's when the zombies surfaced around them. They rose from the ground. James dropped the beer. Glass shattered around his feet. For a moment the stench was replaced with a more pleasant aroma.
James' heart raced, his fingers shook at the sight of the zombies. Their skin hung loose, bones sticking out in random bits on their bodies. Maggots and flies swarmed the putrid mess around them. Flashing razor-sharp claws appeared on most of them. They walked with a swiftness in contrast to how James thought they would move.
David activated his powers. His Ardent power was transforming his skin to stone and enhancing his strength. The stone skin made him immune to most physical pain unless magic was involved. David didn't use his powers often around James.
One of the zombies lunged at David (from James' understanding the stone skin slowed him down) and struck him on the side. David grunted loudly, and blood flowed from the wound. Magic, damn.
It shouldn't have surprised either of them, the way they spawned out of nowhere. David countered the attack, punching one in the face, then the one next to it, creating a hole, “Run!” David said as he shoved James through the gap. James stumbled through untouched, panting. He ran away as fast he could, but James halted when he heard David scream again. “Ahhh!” James pivoted to see zombies on top of him. Three had snatched him from behind and pulled him down. James wished he could assist. Instead, he found himself looking to the sky for Gravitation Woman. It hadn't been that long since she flew over, but nothing. No heroes were coming. David's sister Petrice had to understand what was going on and alerting the other Ardents, she was a telepath.
The heroes must be busy dealing with other ruffians in the city. Otherwise, they would be here. The zombies glanced at James and smirked as they lugged a now motionless David away.
Screw it. James chased after them, at least he could try to follow them, tell the others where they went. But when he reached the corner the trail of blood from David vanished.
Several hours later James sat alone in his apartment, cradling the lone beer they had at the table. It had been a torturous ordeal. After David had vanished, he called his aunt, a few minutes later the police showed up. He had to handle, both the regular police and Ardents and their investigator, Violet, a stern woman who wore a helmet cloaking her face and a purple and black Hero Coalition uniform.
His cousin and other Ardents that patrolled the district had arrived too. They tried to be nice to him. Telling him, there was nothing he could do. It's why he ached for powers, or to forget. If he had powers, he could have interceded. The Hero Coalition members kept telling him he'd have got taken away too.
James yearned to forget. It was too much. The sight of the zombies had been burned into his mind, of them hauling his best friend away. Him standing there motionless, frozen with fear unable to rescue his friend, his family. James fiddled with the now empty bottle in his hand. Fermenting on his failure. He stood and blasted the radio not caring if he woke the neighbors. James hunted for anything to allow him to forget.
Finding nothing, he was left to dwell on it more and more. Fuck this. James stood and left the sterile apartment. He wasn't sure where he wanted to go, but anywhere was better than being here. His apartment held memories of the good times with David. The nights playing games, the nights drinking, they caused nothing but pain now.
He ended up on the roof of his apartment building. Occasionally people used it for large parties on the weekend. Tonight the roof was barren of people, late enough that they would have left for the night. Remnants remained of a keg party. Empty red cups littered the roof and drying puddles of beer lingered on the floor. Now the beer reminded him of the zombies. James gagged. Vomit made it to his mouth. He held most back.
He'd never be able to forget the smell and David screaming for his life.
James stumbled to the ledge, the building was fifteen-stories high. The more he pondered it, the more he ached. He stood up on the ledge and peeked downward. A fall would do it. End his life.
Don't. Petrice said in his head. James hated it when she did that. She swore she'd never do it. Never listen in on him.
Leave me alone. I have to. James inched closer. Peering to the ground below.
No, you don't James. We love you. You did what you could.
No! I failed David. You should be furious with me. How could they not be? He just let it happen. Let David be taken away.
We failed David. You're not alone. Please wait. I'm on my way. We can talk about this. Figure it out. Locate David.
He's gone. Dead. And I'm going to join him.
James scanned the sky. In the distance, he could see Petrice flying towards him. He had to leap before she got him or she'd be able to save him.
He held out his arms and vaulted off the roof.
Noooooo! Petrice screamed into his head.
Petrice
Why did he jump? Why? Petrice thought to herself. James plummeted to the ground in front of her. The stories of time slowing in life or death situations were garbage. To Petrice, the time sped up. James fell to his death, and Petrice watched in terror. Her heart pounding, nauseated, and her palms sweaty. She had trouble focusing.
Petrice wished he paused for just a moment longer. Someone should have gone home with him or forced him to stay at their place. Leaving him at his apartment alone was plain stupid. At the scene of the abduction, James had a depressed appearance, and Petrice understood better than most how he felt about being normal. Petrice beat herself up for not seeing this coming.
Petrice reached out with her limited telekinesis. It was different when she used it on herself. It let her fly, just not as fast as other Ardents. But when she used it on anything else it wasn't as effective, and distance mattered. Stalling James' plunge, from a quarter mile away, might not be possible, but she was going to try. She put everything she had it in, not worrying about the effects it had on her. Her only goal was to save James.
He wasn't small like Petrice was, weighing over two-hundred pounds. His size alone made it even more challenging. Petrice was barely five feet tall, and a hundred pounds soaking wet, with black hair pulled back into a ponytail. In most circumstances, she'd never been able to lift James, and that mattered to her powers. But this was different. It had to be different. She just had been able to do something. Her adrenaline soared. She sensed him. It wasn't much. She reached into her powers and accessing as much as possible.
James' slowed, but it wasn't enough to pause his fall completely. His body’s impact devastated James and struck Petrice through the connection she held. Petrice clung to the fact that he lived as she descended to the ground next to his motionless body.
Petrice wanted to look away, but couldn't. She gingerly reached out to soothe his pain, she wished she could heal him, but the damage was beyond her skill level. Only recently Petrice learned the finer parts of her powers, including healing via telekinesis and her telepathy. She was at least able to separate James’s awareness from most of the pain.
His right arm was almost completely severed from his body, blood shot from torn arteries everywhere. His left eye had a nail protruding from it. Knowing there was nothing she could do about his eye, she scanned around for something to treat his wounds. She frantically called out to her family, requesting advice.
There were linens in the back seat of a car, and she borrowed them. The sheets easily wrapped around his shoulder and arm. She hoped it slowed the bleeding and allowed the doctors to save him.
Mom, where should I take him? Cynosure General? She asked in her head. She had kept her mother updated. Her mother had been a hero years ago. She retired to
raise Scott the oldest, David her younger brother and Petrice.
Her mom didn't reply right away. In the meantime, Petrice scanned for David's car. It should be around here, he always parked out front. After several minutes she spotted the little compact and hopped in, she used her powers to start the car, and then drove over to James. She carefully loaded him in into the back seat of the car, it was just large enough to hold him. She had to wrestle his legs in.
Mom?
I heard you the first time honey. None of the hospitals will be able to save James. You did what you could, but the only people capable of saving him now are at Hero Coalition headquarters in downtown.
Petrice wasn't sure that was the best location, they didn't work on Non-Ardents. But if her mom said so she trusted her. She took off at once. Okay, she replied back.
I'm calling to inform them that you're on your way.
Thanks, mom.
Petrice disconnected from her, it wasn't easy talking in her mind. It made focusing on the world around her difficult.
The small compact car darted in and out of the late night or early morning traffic depending on if you just woke up or not. There wasn't much, thankfully. But James didn't have a lot of time, and the roads of Cynosure weren't exactly designed for speed. Petrice wished the city founder, Titus, still lived. She wanted to inform him the street layout sucked.
The trip took longer than Petrice wanted, but finally, she traversed the bridge that connected midtown, with downtown. The island of downtown was only ten miles across, and the Hero Coalition headquarters in the dead center. At least that was something for Petrice.
In front of the building, a group stood, several men and women in scrubs with a stretcher. Petrice leaped out of the car, opening the back seat with James. The medical personnel nudged her to the side and went to work on extracting James from the car. They worked with care, not to do any more damage than was already done. James hung on to his life by a thread. When Petrice reached out to him, he was in more pain than ever. She did her best to calm his mind, soothe the pain, but it just wasn't enough. Not all the pain was physical. His heart ached for the loss of David, the feeling of helplessness.