by Mark Cole
The man glanced from Alex to the camera and back. “Whatever, man. Screw you,” he said, holding up his middle finger as he walked away.
Alex squeezed the bridge of his nose with his left hand and fished in his pants pocket for his keys. He unlocked the car and slid into the driver’s seat, and he made a mental note to take her in for a check-up as she sputtered to life.
This day has officially sucked, he thought as he tossed the sedan into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. Maybe Terra can cheer me up.
Alex pushed the voice command button on the steering wheel and told the system to call his girlfriend. She answered after the third ring.
“You know, you really shouldn’t talk on your phone while you’re driving in the rain,” Terra said, not for the first time.
The sound of her voice made Alex smile and put him at ease. “Well, you shouldn’t call me when I’m driving then.”
A moment of silence passed, and Alex knew she was rolling her eyes at him through the phone. “You know you called me, you frustrating oaf.”
“You know you love me, and it’s always raining,” Alex said with a laugh, but the sound was cut short by the surrounding traffic’s sudden stop.
“What’s wrong?” Terra asked, concern clear in her voice.
Alex sighed and put the car in park. “Nothing, just traffic, and I had a weird day today.”
“You want to talk about it?” she asked.
“Maybe when I get home. Not right now.”
“Alex,” Terra said with a hesitant tone.
“What’s up?”
“Yeah,” she answered. “There’s just… I need to talk to you about something when you get home.”
“Is everything all right?” Alex asked as the traffic cleared, and everyone started moving again.
“Nothing’s wrong. Just something I should tell you. Should have told you already.”
What is she talking about? “Okay, babe. I love you. See you soon.”
“Love you too,” Terra said. “See you soon.”
Terra put the cell phone in her pocket. Have I made the right decision? I have to tell him eventually. She walked into the apartment’s small kitchen and opened the fridge.
“I wonder what Alex wants for dinner,” she muttered as she scanned the items. Smiling to herself, Terra pulled out the ingredients to make a pepperoni pizza. She turned on the oven, ripped open the prepackaged crust, and placed it on the pizza tray.
What is he going to think of everything after I tell him? Is he still going to say he loves me? She spooned some sauce onto the pizza crust and used a spoon to spread it in a thin layer.
Or will he look at me like everyone else does? Terra shook her head, and a wisp of her red hair came free, hanging before her face. None of that even matters, she thought as she tucked the loose hair behind her ear. The only thing that does is if he’ll do it.
Terra opened the package of mixed cheese and layered it on the pizza followed by some pepperonis. She looked at all of the packaging that had piled up on the counter and sighed. There’s so much waste here, but what do you expect, when they’ve forgotten so much? The oven beeped, and Terra placed the pizza and tray in to cook.
She walked into the living room and sat on the small leather couch. Terra stared at the blank television, lost deep in thought. I’ll have to make him believe me. There’s just too much at stake.
Her gaze drifted up to the wooden sword mounted on the wall above the fireplace mantel. I know it’s him. I wish it wasn’t. I don’t want my time here to end.
But it has to, she knew. I can’t delay any longer. It’s already been far too long. Terra thought of Alex’s smile and the look he always had in his eyes when he saw her. And far too short…
The lights went out, and Terra warily rose to her feet. “Great,” she muttered as she glanced into the kitchen. “At least it’s a gas oven. I’m glad Alex chose to live here.”
He’s going to ask when he— Terra’s thoughts were interrupted when the door exploded inward, and heavy footsteps charged into the room. As fast as thought, a flickering ball of fire burst to life above her outstretched hand. Before Terra could hurl the fireball at the black cloaked figure, the fireball disappeared.
“How?” was all she could say before the intruder crashed into her.
Chapter Two - Captured
Seriously? Someone parked in my spot again! Alex thought, rubbing his eyes. He turned pulled into a parking place across the lot from his and Terra’s apartment. He got of the car and walked to the stairs that led down the small hill to his first floor home.
Alex turned the corner to mount the stairs, and alarms went off in the back of his head when he saw the lights were out. He glanced around and saw that only his building was without power. Odd. Panic screamed through him when he reached the landing and saw the front door hanging at an angle.
“Terra!” Alex shouted as he bolted inside. He saw light coming from the back of the apartment and ran that way. Snatching the wooden sword from the mantle, he rounded the corner into the bedroom and froze.
A golden doorway hung inches above the carpet. It cast a yellow light through the room. Terra’s wide hazel eyes stared at him, and an ebon cloaked figure crouched over her. She started to shake her head and yell through the gag in her mouth.
“Get away from her!” Alex shouted, brandishing the wooden sword before him.
The man stopped binding additional ropes around Terra and slowly rose to his full height. As he turned, the yellow light from the portal illuminated his face, and Alex saw the man had a porcine nose and tusks.
Alex took an involuntary step back. The pig-faced man lifted a hand, and an invisible force shoved the Marine into the wall. The air was nocked from his lungs, but he kept his feet.
What the Hell was that? he thought as he gasped for air. A wicked curved knife appeared in the monster’s hairy hand, and it took a step toward Alex.
Terra had risen to her knees, and she launched herself at the assailant. He stumbled but did not fall. Rounding on her, the monster kicked her in the forehead, and she didn’t get back up.
Alex pushed off of the wall and swung the wooden sword at the man-pig-thing’s head. The weapon almost connected, but he was blasted away again. His head slammed against the wall, and everything went hazy. He watched in a daze as the monster advanced, lifting the knife.
His eyes closed, and when they opened the pig face was inches away from his. Eyes closed. I have to… The black cloaked figure was farther away, lifting Terra from the floor. Eyes closed. Do something…
The thing, Terra, and the golden door were gone. The lights came back on, and a woman with yellow eyes and black hair crouched before him. She looks pissed. The edges of his vision began to go dark. “I have to,” he muttered.
“You have to what?” the woman asked, her eyes locked on his.
“Protect Terra,” he finished as the darkness began to overwhelm him.
She looked over her shoulder to where the golden doorway had been, and it snapped back into existence. “You’ll only slow me down,” she hissed.
Alex reached out blindly and grabbed a fistful of her green clothing. “I’m her guardian,” he whispered, his vision narrowed to pinpricks.
Am I floating? was the last thought to run through his mind before he lost consciousness.
Terra awoke to the harsh, squealing voices of Halfmen. “Do we get to eat her now?” one of the asked. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she took silent appraisal of herself. Her head throbbed where the shaman had kicked her, and she was lashed to a litter with no way to move her arms or legs.
The head of a fire warmed her through the woolen blanket that covered her from the shoulders down. A rock dug into her back, and she wanted to shift away from it. She knew that would draw attention to her, and she wanted a little more time to figure out what was going on first. At least there’s a fire, or else I would be frozen solid.
“The Master would be very displeased if we di
dn’t bring her alive,” another Halfman snapped.
Her breath curled in the air as Terra cracked her eyes open. She looked out of the corner of her eye at the one who had talked. The cowl of its black cloak lay back, revealing the pig-like features. A necklace of bone hung around the Halfman’s neck. The shaman, she thought.
Terra berated herself for being taken captive by a lone Halfman. I shouldn’t have hesitated. I’ve gotten soft in my time away… She began to take count of the monsters surrounding her. Without moving her head, she could only come up with a rough estimate. She saw eight, but from the sound of it, there were many more she couldn’t see.
If I can kill the shaman first, I have a chance. I’ll just have to bide my time.
“She’s awake,” the shaman said.
Terra swore under her breath and opened her eyes the rest of the way. “What did you do to Alex?” she demanded. “If you hurt him, I swear I will slaughter you all like the pigs you are.”
The Halfman laughed at her. “Such big threats, Nexus!” It lifted a cloven hoof and slammed it down on her chest. One of her ribs cracked in the silence, and a wheeze of breath escaped her clenched jaws. He looked over his should at the other Halfmen. “There was nothing about hurting her in our orders, however.”
“Answer me,” she growled through clenched teeth. “Where is Alex?”
“Alex?” the shaman mocked. “Oh, you must mean the human I left lifeless on the ground. Don’t worry for him, his death was quick. I slit his throat from ear to ear.”
Her anger faltered. “He’s dead?” she whispered.
The shaman grinned down at her. “Died trying to save you, Nexus.”
Tears came unbidden to her eyes, but Terra pushed them away. There’s no time for that now. She tried to reach for her power, but nothing came. It was as if an invisible wall blocked her from it. She pushed against the resistance but couldn’t find a weak point.
“Problem?” the shaman sneered. He kicked her again, and another rib snapped. “Your power is sealed, Nexus. The Master saw to that.”
Her right side was on fire, and the pain screamed through her with every gasp. She tried to take smaller breaths to keep her ribs from moving as much.
“Who is your master?”
The Halfman laughed at her. “The all-powerful Overlord of Hell,” he said with a reverent tone.
Ice ran through Terra’s veins. She began to struggle against the ropes, but they would not budge. The Halfmen all laughed at her feeble attempt to escape her bonds, and she was forced to stop trying when the pain became too much to bear. The winter air chilled the beads of sweat on her forehead.
“At least she has more fight in her than the human did,” the shaman said with a laugh.
Terra shook her head, refusing to believe anything the shaman said. Alex isn’t dead. He can’t be. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself…
“You,” she said. The shaman looked at her. “Will die.” Her glare could have seared flesh from bone. “Very soon.” He snorted at her and turned away, but the fear in the Halfman’s eyes gave Terra a sense of grim satisfaction.
Terra fought against whatever was blocking her powers. There has to be some way out of this. There just has to. She tried to focus on searching out the barrier’s weak point, but thoughts of Alex kept distracting her.
What if he really is dead? The shaman had no reason to lie. No! Don’t think like that. Halfmen lie for their own amusement. He just wants to hurt you more. Focus, Terra!
For hours she tried to break past the block, but each attempt was unsuccessful, and Terra reached the end of her mental endurance. What if… Terra squeezed her eyes shut, and a rogue tear slipped from the corner of her left eye. She winced when she took a deeper breath to calm her nerves.
An opportunity to escape will present itself. I should rest while I can and preserve my strength. Memories of the first time she met Alex ten months ago dominated her mind as she drifted to sleep.
Terra pushed open the door and stepped from the cold Chicago winter into the bar’s warmth. He’s supposed to be here. I have to find him. The air was thick with the smell of beer and spicy food. Three men sat at the bar. One of them was much bigger than the other two, and the smaller men seemed to hang on his every word. Other than the bartender, they were the only people in the bar.
It has to be one of them, she thought and crossed the open space to sit near them. Terra unzipped the leather jacket she wore as she took her seat, and she heard the creak of wooden stools as the men craned their necks to get a look at her. She sighed and motioned to the bartender.
“I’m Ann. How can I help you?” the woman asked as she approached Terra.
“Terra. I’d like a glass of water and a menu.”
Ann nodded and stepped away to get the water.
Terra ran her fingers along the bar. The lacquer was chipped away in places, but her hand came away clean. She glanced around the room, and she saw a man sitting by himself in a corner booth. His eyes were bright, and an expectant look was on his face as he kept glancing at the door.
“What brings such a fine lady out at this time of the night?” a slightly slurred voice asked over her shoulder.
I need to feel him out first. He may not be the one. Terra looked at the big man and was surprised to see he had moved to sit next to her, abandoning the two men he was with. “Oh, nothing,” she said prettily. “Just hungry and looking for someone.”
Ann dropped off the water and menu. She glanced from Terra to the man and gave Terra a subtle shake of her head.
“Maybe it’s me you’re lookin’ for, sweet thing. I’m Harry.”
Terra smiled at him over her water and took a sip. “Maybe it is.”
Harry put his left hand on her blue-jean covered thigh, and she fought down the impulse to shove it away. “So, Harry,” she said as she placed her hand over his, “why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself?”
The big man puffed up even more and smirked at her. “I’m a Defense Contractor,” he said, his voice growing louder so the few men in the bar could hear. “The Department of Defense calls me up when there is something to hard for their pretty boys in uniform to handle.” Terra heard the man sitting by himself in the corner snort a laugh at the comment. Harry looked at him and glared.
Keep him on track. “So, you’re no stranger to some action?”
Harry nodded; the smirk snapping back onto his face. “That’s right, baby. How about you? Down for some action?”
If this is what I have to deal with, then I’m going back alone, Terra thought. A sharp pain in the side of her left buttock made her flush with anger. Harry’s smirk had widened to a grin as he pulled his right hand back.
“You pig!” she shouted at him as she threw the water in his face. Terra flew to her feet and walked out of the small bar.
It had started snowing in the few minutes she was inside, and the wind was biting, but the heat of her anger made her ignore it. That’s it. Maybe I can’t find him. It’s been four years, and I can’t wait any longer. My people need me!
A streetlight cast its orange glow on everything around, and Terra paused beneath it. What are you doing, Terra. You know you need the Guardian. Without him, countless people died for nothing…
The door to the bar flew open, and three men stormed out, looking for her. “There she is!” one of them shouted as he pointed at her.
Great. Terra scanned her surroundings and saw an alley not far away. She briskly walked into it and turned to stand her ground.
The three men entered the alley and stopped a few paces away from her. “Come on girly,” Harry said with a sneer, “we just want to have some fun.”
“You will turn around and leave now, or else you may not live to regret it.” I shouldn’t use magic here, she thought as she reached around her back for the knife she carried.
Harry took a step back, and one of his buddies laughed. “Looks like this one’s got some fight in her, Harry.” Harry smirked and moved closer to
her once again.
A man suddenly appeared between the two men with Harry. “How are you three gentlemen doing this fine evening?” the newcomer asked.
Who’s this?
The two men nearly jumped out of their skin at his sudden appearance, and Harry spun toward him. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
The man grinned at them. “The name’s John, John Smith, and I just saw you three here in this all and thought, Hell, I would like to see if I could interest you all in a drink. I know a good bar just a little ways from here.”
“Beat it,” Harry snarled. “We’re going to teach this bitch a lesson in manners.”
“Who’s this bitch you’re going on about?” the man who called himself John squinted his eyes and looked past them at Terra. His green woolen jacket was zipped up, and snowflakes had begun to accumulate in his short, brown hair. “Jane?” he asked, sounding surprised. “What are you doing out at this time of night?”
John walked past the three men, making a show of tripping over a loose pipe, and he put his arm around her shoulders. Terra tensed in his embrace, unsure what to make of his actions, but he gave her a gentle squeeze.
“What are you doing… John?” she muttered.
“Making sure no one dies,” he whispered back. John faced the three men. “Guys, this is my little sister, Jane, and I just couldn’t let anything happen to her. How about we all go have that drink I was talking about and laugh about this later?”
Harry glared at him. “Bullshit. She told me her name was Terra.”
John gave her a disapproving look. “Terra, how many times have I gotten on to you about lying to people about your name. I know it’s boring, but someone has to be Jane Smith.”
Harry took another step forward. “Your little sister isn’t getting out of this scot-free.”
Talking with his free hand, John said, “You’re sure there’s no way I can convince you to leave my sweet, loving, harmless baby sister alone?” Terra felt him shifting his weight as he dug at something with his foot.