She closed her eyes, lying very still. He wondered if she was about to fall asleep right here and now, but then she spoke. "We should 'a talked to them."
"They weren't listening. It's too late. Just...don't think about it." Yet he was still envisioning them: their pale gray skin, their black and green hoodies, their long forms. He didn't even know how old they were.
Probably not old enough to know what they'd gotten themselves into.
After the short break, Evan and Samantha continued on. This time, they weren't joking around as they walked. Everything around them was eerily silent. Weren't the others still fighting? It seemed odd to Evan not to hear a sound.
The second building was a bit more interesting. The rooms were full of all types of machines. Large machines, with man-sized glass tubing. Syringes and small glass containers lined the many shelves. In one room, they even saw small life forms floating in sealed-off glass chambers. They reminded Evan of rodents, but it still bothered Samantha anyway.
The room after that, they found live animals in cages. With all the IVs, containers, and needles around, it wasn't hard to imagine what was being done to the rabbits, rats, and lizards. Before leaving this room, Samantha insisted on releasing the animals through the window. Evan was sure they'd get caught, but still nobody seemed to notice them and their parade of lab animal escapees. Was this place even monitored?
Finally, they were nearing the end of the rooms.
"What if he isn't here?" Evan asked. "What if we messed up, and all this was for nothing?"
"Well, at least we helped those animals." Her optimism seemed a bit forced.
Yeah, and killed two kids to do it, Evan thought to himself. Were the others even okay?
"I had a feeling this was a science facility. Guess the Tranludes really do do all kinds of experiments..."
Evan opened the next door. Expecting to see more machinery, he was surprised to see Roger Lemmings instead. The professor was lying on the floor, his hands bound together and a metal brace around his midsection. A chain looped through this, securing him to a horizontal metal beam.
"Professor Lemmings!" Evan raced over to him. "Sir, we're here to help you!"
No response.
"Hey..." He shook him.
Samantha inched over. "They must've been shocking him. They used those braces on us too."
"Geh..." Evan tried to yank the brace off. It felt like attempting to pull a car.
"That won't work." Coming over, she kneeled down and examined it. "I wonder..." She entered four digits, then pressed the blue button.
The brace snapped open.
"Great job." He peeled the brace off and began to untie the binding on the professor's hands.
"It was the same code as last time," Samantha said. "Three, one, four, six."
"Professor Lemmings?"
The professor's brown hair had a burnt tinge to it and was a bit frizzy. She was right: they must've been using electricity to torture him for information. But what information? Either way, he seemed completely zonked out.
Evan turned to Samantha. "Can you call the others? I'll have to carry him out."
"Alright. Maybe you want to leave his coat behind?" She eyed the long trench coat. "That thing looks heavy."
"He'd kill me if I left it. He loves that dumb thing."
While Evan was trying to work out the best way to carry Lemmings, Samantha took out her phone and dialed a number. After a few seconds, she said, "Hey, Joby. It's me. ...Yeah, everything's fine. How are you and Oliver?" Listening, she eyed the professor's limp form. "That's good to hear. Listen, we found Professor Lemmings. Can you ask Oliver to give Bee-Bee a call and relay the message to her? ...Okay. Yeah, let's meet out front. See you soon." Pausing for a second, her cheeks tinted as she glanced Evan's way. "Uh... Yeah, see ya. Stay safe." She put her phone away.
"Anything interesting?" Evan had to ask.
"Oh, uh, no..." Her hand went up, searching for a strand of hair to curl. "They're both okay. We should get going."
"Alright then." Grabbing the professor's hands, Evan pulled him up onto his back. He was pretty heavy for not being a particularly chubby guy.
"Anything I can do to help?" Samantha asked.
"Just keep an eye out. Hopefully we won't bump into anyone, but if we do..."
Suddenly this whole set up seemed terrible. She was weak from using too much spiritual energy, and now here he was, lugging around the professor. If they were attacked, they'd be in trouble. "Actually, if we see anyone, try to play it off. Act confident. Maybe they'll see our burns, see how sure we are, and decide it's better not to mess with us."
She was slow to respond. "Okay... I hope we just don't see anyone at all."
"I hope not, either.
Their return trip through the building went smoothly enough, although Evan had a hard time getting a comfortable setup. His shoulders ached and he felt like a fat-shelled turtle trying to keep moving without toppling over. For possibly the first time in his life, he was regretting not being more physically active. Maybe if he managed to get through this, he'd start weightlifting, in case he ever had to carry a grown man again through two long buildings and a vast parking lot.
Carrying an unconscious body is not something one plans on doing, but this was his second time. Two years ago, he had to carry Samantha at one point, but that hadn't been so bad, since it was for a shorter distance and she weighed all of a hundred and ten pounds. Right about now, he could appreciate her small frame. On the other hand, the professor needed to lay off on the ice cream.
They were nearing the end of the parking lot and the door for the entrance building when Evan started to slow.
"Just one more building," Samantha said.
"Geh... I might need a break."
"You can't last a bit longer?"
"He's rubbing my burns raw." Evan let Lemmings slip to the ground. "You'd think he'd be waking up soon."
Just then, they heard the slam of a heavy metal door. Just outside the building stood two Tranludes. And they were facing in the direction of the twins.
So much for their luck.
The two Tranludes approached them.
"Hey," one said. "You can't take him. Lord Visero has strict orders."
Glancing back at Evan, Samantha didn't look so thrilled, but she took a step forward anyway, setting her shoulders. "Oh, this again? How many of you do we have to deal with?"
"We're taking the professor," Evan added. "And if you have any common sense, you won't get in the way."
A Tranlude laughed. "Ooh! These ones are feisty! This might be fun!"
"Fun?" Samantha forced a laugh. "If you're a masochist, then maybe."
The Tranlude smirked. "I like you already. So tell me, how shall you kill me?" He put a hand on his hip. "What form of violent energy do you carry?"
"I'll tear you to pieces with my tornados."
"Wind, huh? I had a feeling you were my type."
This seemed to knock the "wind" from Samantha. "You have wind, too?"
"Oh yes. Now let's see whose flurry contains more fury!" He yanked out his blue stone.
This wasn't going to be good.
First an air torrent whipped up behind the Tranlude. It rushed towards the twins, gaining momentum as it went.
"You've got this, Sam," Evan said.
Her shorter hair blowing around, she summoned a counterblast.
The two currents collided, creating a type of short-lived twister effect before Samantha's fizzled out.
"Oh, come on!" The Tranlude started up another flurry. "I want this to last, blow for blow! Don't be a pushover!"
As the gust was sent their way, Samantha could only manage a faint breeze before this too died out. She let out a cry.
The wind blast hit the twins. Evan tried to keep his footing, but he was swept off his feet like a paper plane. There was a terrible moment of helplessness: feeling his body pinned by the invisible but powerful wall of wind, driving him up and back.
He smashed back-first into the side of the building. Only when the wind let up was he allowed to drop. He hit the pavement, Samantha right next to him.
His back throbbed, as did his vision.
And to think, at one point he thought wind must've been the weakest element.
He heard the Tranlude laugh. "What a breeze that was!"
A second voice. "Will you stop with the puns? It's getting on my nerves."
Groaning, Evan struggled to his hands and knees. He felt shattered, seared. He knew the end was drawing near. Coming here had been the biggest mistake of his life, possibly of all of their lives. It had sounded so heroic and achievable at the time, thanks to their mysterious moonstones.
But what they hadn't considered was that the enemy would also have moonstones. And that they'd be outnumbered.
He tried to stand, but his arms failed him. He pushed himself to his feet.. "Sam... Get up."
His sister continued to lie there, as unresponsive as the professor.
The wind Tranlude sighed. "What a letdown she was. All that hot air... Oh well! One left! Let's do this! Time to break the ice!"
His partner let out a heavy moan. Taking out a white moonstone, he sent a misty blast at Evan's feet.
Evan attempted to jump back, but only hit the wall again. When he landed on the ground, his feet swung out from underneath him. He landed heavily on the newly-formed ice. He tried to get up again, but now it was too slippery. Would it ever end?
The talker burst out laughing. "He fell for it! But don't let him give us the slip!"
Pulling his moonstone out from his pocket, Evan hit them with a burst of light.
They both let out screams, jumping back.
"What did he just do?" the second asked.
"I don't know, but it was enlightening."
The partner smacked the first. "I'll kill you myself if you don't stop with the damn puns!"
"Okay, sorry! It was just a joke."
Another gust of wind came. Since he was already flat on the ice anyway, Evan focused on flattening himself as much as he could. He was still pushed into the wall, but not with nearly as much force as before.
He attempted another hit, but the ice Tranlude used a quick burst of icy mist to shield them.
"What do you want?" Evan said.
"What else? The wish stone for Lord Visero."
"The wish stone? I don't know anything about it!" He glanced at Samantha. "Neither does she!"
"Our lord was sure enough to snag the guy in the coat. I can't tell if you're being truthful, but I'm sure Lord Visero will find out one way or another..."
Torture. He was going to torture him and Samantha, just like he had the professor.
"We don't know anything about it!" Evan attempted to get to his feet, but slipped and fell. "Sam! SAM!"
He heard some kind of murmur from her.
They were screwed.
He attempted another light blast, but again it was blocked by the ice mist. He felt entirely useless. What the heck was his stone doing, anyway? Just being a fancy flashlight?
Another gust of wind swooped in low. Evan was flipped upright and into the wall. He slipped down, landing on his rear.
Just then, he heard a boyish voice: "Hey!"
The two Tranludes looked up. Evan was slow to do the same.
Standing there was Joby, lightning stone in hand. "Whaddaya think you're doing? You mess with my friends, you're messing with me!"
An electrical streak shot down from the sky.
The Tranludes jumped back in fear.
The lightning hit where they'd just been with a monstrous bellow. The force sent them tumbling backward.
Sitting up, the wind Tranlude stared at the burnt patch. "Whoa there! I only wanted some extra cash! It's not worth dying for!" He got to his feet. "I'm outta here." Spinning around, he took off.
His ice partner got up. "Hey! Wait! What am I supposed to do?" His eyes suddenly fell to Joby, widening. "Wait! I'm out of here too. That airhead running off without me..." He also disappeared back inside the building.
Evan let out a sigh. He never thought he'd see the day where'd he be grateful to see Joby, but this was such a day. "Thanks, Joby."
But his friend looked right through him as he turned his eyes to Samantha. "Samantha?" He trotted over to her. "Ya okay, buddy?"
"Second time today she's been like this," Evan said.
Joby's head snapped up. "What? Why are ya pushing her so hard? Just give her a break!"
"Hey, I had nothing to do with it." And it's not like I haven't endured the same burns and bashes. But he managed to bite his tongue on the last part. Arguing would only make things worse. They all needed to work together if they wanted to get out alive.
Samantha stirred. "I'm okay, guys." She lifted her head up some. Her eyes still looked a tad unfocused, but at least they were open.
"Ya sure? Ya look pretty bad."
"I just messed up. I used my stone too much..."
He helped her into an upright position. "Rest for a bit."
"We don't have time," Evan said. "We could get jumped again." He looked around. "Where's Oliver?"
"He was right behind me... Oh! There he is!" Joby pointed.
Coming from across the parking lot was Oliver Kenneth. By the time he caught up to them, he was completely out of breath. "What'd I miss?" His shirt was soaked.
In fact, so was Joby's.
"What'd you guys do?" Evan asked. "Fight the rain sisters?"
"Not sure if they were sisters, but..."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, man. They flooded a room and tried to drown us." Oliver eyed Evan first, then Samantha. "What happened?"
"First we fought two fire idiots, then the duo Joby just saved us from."
Oliver closed his eyes for a minute.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just thought, as your friend, I should tell you. Smoking's bad for your health."
Joby chuckled some at this.
"So is drinking," Evan countered.
"Is the professor awake yet?" Samantha raised a feeble hand, pointing.
"Not sure." Evan attempted to stand, but slipped again. "Damn this ice!" Oliver gave him a hand up. Evan went to check on Professor Lemmings. The guy was lucky he had managed to avoid the wind blasts. But he was still out cold.
"Well, we need to get moving." Oliver walked over. "I'll give you a hand with him."
"Thanks."
The two boys each took an arm and pulled the professor up, each supporting him by a shoulder. This felt much more manageable to Evan.
Samantha got to her feet. Her legs seemed a bit unsteady.
"Need an arm?" Joby offered.
"I think I got it, but thanks."
"Oh, come on!" He slipped an arm around her. "It ain't a big deal."
Just as their group was pulling itself together, they heard a voice: "Visero is coming! Visero the Vicious is on his way!"
Chapter 26
"Why don't we stand and fight him? We can take him on!"
"There's something off about him, Joby. It'd be better to just avoid him."
Evan, Oliver, Samantha, and Joby hurried down the lengthy halls of the final building, still lugging an unconscious Professor Lemmings with them. There was an unnerving lack of Tranludes. Instead everything was empty and deathly silent.
"She's right," Oliver said. "There is something off about that Visero guy. And I should know; abnormal psych is my major. Who else would be so tense and violent all the time? That guy's either got a lot of hatred in him or he's missing something that the rest of us have."
"And what's that?" Joby asked.
"A conscience," Samantha said.
They took a turn. Just one more hallway left.
"Well, if we do see him, it'd be the four of us against him," Evan said. "Even better if we can meet up with Isis and Bee-Bee before then too. I doubt he could beat the six of us." At Samantha and Oliver's looks, he said, "I don't care what his angry little eyes look l
ike! He's going to have one moonstone and one element like the rest of us. Whatever he has isn't going to be enough to counter all of us."
"Exactly!" Joby said. "That's why I say we turn around and kick his ass!"
"Hasn't there been enough ass-kicking today?" Samantha asked.
"Babe, there is never enough ass-kicking."
Finally they flew out from the doorway. Seeing the beautiful blue sky soothed Samantha. Maybe the world wasn't about to come to an end anytime soon, after all. As long as the sun continued to shine its light for the world and the two moons were there to protect the night, everything would go on as usual and be okay.
But then, she saw him.
The tall gray Tranlude with the angular features and the angry eyes.
And he was standing before Isis and Beatrice.
"Bee-Bee!" Completely dropping the professor onto Evan, Oliver took off at a run. "Leave her alone, you bastard!"
"Oli-ver!" Evan struggled with the professor.
"Let's do this!" Pulling away from Samantha, Joby raced after Oliver. "It's ass-kicking time!"
"Joby, wait! Guys!" Struggling with herself, she glanced back at Evan.
With a groan, he shoved the professor to the ground before grabbing his moonstone. They went after their friends.
Lord Visero didn't even bat an eye at the six young adults standing before him. In fact, he seemed calmer now than he had the last time Samantha had seen him, in that backroom in the warehouse, when he had broken her finger and had given her, Joby, and Oliver a stern chewing out. For being happy, of all things. She wondered what his story was. Why did he hate humans so much? Did he even have a reason?
"I knew there were rats here." Lord Visero's red eyes slid over one after another. "But you only made things easier for me. Now I have more brains to pick."
"Pick this!" With a jab of his finger, Joby sent a lightning bolt crashing down.
Jumping back, Visero flicked his hand.
As the lightning bolt neared the ground, it suddenly shifted angle, shooting out to the side instead. He must've controlled lightning too.
"Pff. You have weak control." Lord Visero raised a hand up to the heavens. Samantha had no doubt he was going to hit them.
Wish by Moonstone Page 20