Balancer's Soul

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  Connor’s grandfather sat beside him and chuckled. Connor slowly stood up and the boys took a step back instinctively. He unbuttoned his black vest and his grandfather gladly took it off his hands. Connor glanced at him as he smirked and put on the sleeveless vest. It was too large for him. Connor returned his gaze to the boys and said calmly “I’m sorry, but my answer is no.”

  One of the other boys said “But we could use someone on our team with your talents!”

  “What talents?” He said, knowing the answer.

  “On the last day of school when you held off all of those other guys by yourself, you showed us how much power you have!” another guy said “Or how accurate your throws proved to be at the Dunk Tank.”

  Connor accidently overheard Jillian’s thoughts, but didn’t turn to look at her. “… all you want? Please! My son now has enough power to destroy this school in an instant. You children have no idea how much power he does have!”

  “That’s why I won’t play any sports. I don’t like hurting people, ok. Do you remember how my body’s built?” Connor emphasized by pointing to the center of his broad chest.

  “Who wouldn’t be able to remember that and that tattoo? Plus my girlfriend wants me to train harder because of what she saw from you.” The leader shook his head. “Thanks for that by the way.” He added sarcastically.

  “Listen to me for the last time. I only use my strength to protect those I love. I will not use it for personal reasons. My strength is for myself and mine to use as I see fit.” He said, ending the conversation.

  The boys walked away in confusion and a little perturbed.

  Connor sat back down next to Sarah and everyone around smiled proudly. Connor took a bite out of the hamburger on his plate before he asked “What’s with that look?”

  His mom answered for everyone. “If anyone actually took the time to get to know you, they would learn that you could seriously hurt someone. They would also know that you are built like a tank. You’re humble, not prideful.”

  “I second that!” His grandma chimed in. “Plus, if you did join their little team, they wouldn’t be able to feed someone like you. The school’s cafeteria would go out of business on the first day.” She smiled at her own joke.

  “He’s not the only one who is a pro eater Grandma!” Kara added. “They eat just as much as Brother.” She pointed to Sarah, Jillian and Jack.

  “Really? Now that’s hard to imagine.” Rhoda said with a grin. “One day I will have to see that for myself.” And Connor knew she meant it.

  “Jack, I never had a chance to ask, but what do you do for a living?” David asked and changed subject at the right time.

  “I’m a custom mechanic mostly and a bit of a handyman. I own a garage in the city.” Jack said brushing a strand of silver hair behind his shoulder. David nodded because he always respected a man who works with his hands.

  “And you, Jillian?” David asked while looking at her.

  “I plan and make parties. Like weddings, anniversaries, class reunions… those kinds of things, but I’m best at being a wedding planner.” She chimed in, setting her plate down on the bench between her and Jack.

  Connor saw Sarah take another drink and noticed that she just finished off her cup. “Let me freshen that up for you.” He took her cup as she handed it over. Connor started walking away when he stopped to ask “Would anyone like anything while I’m heading that way?”

  “Could you grab me some more finger sandwiches?” Mark asked.

  He nodded and walked into the cafeteria when none voiced for anything else. Connor filled up Sarah’s drink and filled a plate full of different finger sandwiches. He turned and exited the cafeteria.

  Then his instinct warned him to danger. Hair on the back of his neck rose and the pit of his stomach went hollow.

  He wasn’t about seventy feet away from where Sarah and the gang were when he heard someone yell from the left “HEY BLACK SHEEP!” Connor knew that malicious voice and sighed. Everyone turned to look at the fool who called his former nickname. He turned around slowly to make sure it is a fool…It was.

  Mathew stood about ten to fifteen feet away wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. He was sporting the smile of a sick and demented person about to do something extremely foolish.

  “What do you want now, Mathew?” Connor asked in boredom, but he really was fuming internally. He was sick and tired of Mathew’s petty games.

  “To take my revenge on you for making me look like a reject! How dare a mongrel like you step on someone of my breeding and background?”

  “It looks to me like the runt of the litter wants to prove himself.” Connor sat down Sarah’s drink and Mark’s food. He turned back towards the ingrate in an unafraid and confident manor and stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Everyone who was watching started slowly backing away; students, parents and staff alike. They were smart enough to sense the hostility rolling off Connor.

  Mathew’s grin widened as he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out something black. The audience backed away even more quickly at seeing a weapon. Thinking it was a real gun, Connor became defensive. Mathew raised his hand to point it at Connor. All eyes zeroed in on the object.

  It was an electric stun gun.

  Connor instantly assumed his battle ready stance, prepared to take out his most despised enemy. Instinctively his hand went to his waist line, but remembered leaving Tool at home. A weapon would be a comfort, but he had merely his wits. Connor crouched further and cautiously tried to talk him out of this. “Mathew, why are you really doing this? Especially in front of all these innocent people. Do you realize someone could get caught in the crossfire? Even if you do hit me, they are witnesses.”

  His menacing smile returned. “No one ever makes me look like the waste that you are. Plus since my father is the mayor, he got wind of your escapade during the carnival and he told me to take care of it!” Mathew raised the stun gun and pointed it directly at Connor’s broad chest. “And I intend to do just that.”

  Things were rapidly spiraling out of control.

  Connor’s voice became just as demeaning. “So Daddy gets involved in your fights and tells you what to do? Grow up and be a man. If you want a fight. I’ll give you one, but let’s go somewhere else so that no one else can be potentially hurt.” Slightly he spread his arms and tightened his fists. He needed to prepare to react incase Mathew did fire. “Fight me one on one; no weapons.”

  The vile smile vanished. “Do you honestly think I’m that stupid? No, I’ll use this to equalize the game.” His finger moved to the trigger and Connor knew that talking him out of this would be useless.

  ***

  “HEY BLACK SHEEP!” Sarah clearly heard over Rhoda’s and David’s heated debate for a surprise after party for Connor and the rest of them. She fervently wished she didn’t know who called the name, but did. “Well let’s see how he squirms away from Connor this time? I’m not going to stop him from that ingrate again.” And a tight lipped smile crept onto her lips.

  They all sat together in a circle, watching each other. She looked around and spotted where the voice originated from, but a clear view was obstructed by a mass of people crowding around like spectators in an arena. Sarah could hear Connor’s deep voice talking, but she sat too far away to hear precisely what he said.

  The group had a quit all conversations. “Did I just hear someone call someone a sheep?” Jillian asked confused. “Is that some kind of nickname?”

  “Is anyone that childish?” Jack looked down and asked his mate.

  “That’s Connor’s old nickname that the students offered him unjustly.” Mark explained to everyone, looking outright angry. His fists were clenched tight and his knuckles stood pure white in the blue contrast to the pulsating veins.

  The look on Jenny’s face was that of torment and rage. Apparently this seemed to be the first time she has heard that nickname for her son. Also Connor’s grandparents had the same look on th
eir faces as their daughter did.

  Kara was the first of them to abruptly stand. Her face flushed red with anger and her voice seethed cold rage. “I hope Brother throttles him!” She stormed away towards the crowd and suddenly vanished within the wall of bodies. Mark instantly took off after her, looking ready to throttle someone himself.

  “Who would try to pick a fight with him? He’s so big…” Jillian asked and everyone turned to look at Sarah for an explanation.

  “That would be Mathew.” she sighed. “He would be the student who made me fall off the desk. Connor was the one who caught me and scared him off.” Sarah looked at her parents meaningfully.

  “When did all this happen?” Jenny looked at Sarah and it struck her that they didn’t tell anyone besides her parents. And astonishingly, Kara kept the secret.

  “Two months ago.” Sarah turned to David and Rhoda. “Also on the last day of school we had a carnival and during some games, Connor held off seven people in a game of tug of war all by himself. Then Connor, with Mark’s help, pulled Mathew into the mud pit! Everyone laughed at Connor’s tormenters.” and David’s smiled in satisfaction and a moment later it vanished.

  “I say we should see what all the commotion is about!” Jack stated, standing up. The party followed wearing expressionless masks on their faces.

  Sarah stood up and walked in front and pushed her way through the crowd. It took longer than she thought to make it to the front, but only a few seconds passed in reality. She was elbowed and had her foot stomped on twice. As she pushed her way in Sarah felt the bond with Connor tell her that he wasn’t afraid, but the danger was real. Since her stature wasn’t large she used it to an advantage to slip closer till she reached the front of the crowd.

  It took only a moment to clearly see the two combatants. Her knight was crouched in his battle stance, back arched and arms slightly spread to react to a variety of outcomes while his legs bent slightly, ready to leap. His fists were tightly clenched enough to show that his knuckles were white. Connor’s eyes remained focused an unwavering on the enemy while his neck and jaw muscled bulged and flexed.

  Mathew stood not far away wearing an evil smile while he held up something up in his hand and pointed it directly at her husband. Sarah heard the tail end of the conversation. “…to equalize the game.” She finally made her way completely to the front line and could finally see everything, it all happened within an instant.

  Connor quickly glanced at his sides and didn’t sidestep knowing that someone else could possibly get hurt. Instead he crouched down even more and she could see the extraordinary muscles in his legs bunching up beneath the pants, ready to be unleashed. He knew they had to hold onto their secret so he did everything at his human speed. As Connor sprang forward at him, head on in a tackling manner, Sarah finally processed what Mathew held towards her love.

  The stun gun in Mathew’s hand shot two needlelike electrodes and what looked like confetti directly at Connor. Both of the barbed electrodes pierced into his chest and flesh. As Sarah heard the diabolical Click, Click, Click of the stun gun sending the electricity through the cables she saw Connor crumple to the ground hard. He smashed face first on the concrete as his momentum looked to make the fall even worse. Mathew held the trigger of the weapon and she heard it continuous clicking. Connor started convulsing involuntarily due to the electric current coursing inside his body. Connor couldn’t do anything at all as he was being shocked and kicked in the ribs by Mathew.

  “CONNOR!” Sarah shouted, but she couldn’t even hear her own voice over the roar of the crowd’s anger and outrage.

  She tried leaping to Connor to see if she could help, but thick, fat arms wrapped around her neck in a choke hold. A menacing voice in her ear said “Stay where you are traitor! This is the punishment that has been coming to that cocky freak for a long time now.” Sarah tried turning her head to see who held her and froze when she finally got a good look at the person. It was her colleague. The morbidly obese and balding Mr. V.

  “Let go!” She shouted and used her fake normal human strength, trying to escape. He held her high enough so that she couldn’t stomp on his feet or sweep her heel at his groin. “Not until justice and punishment is served.” He said with a wicked smile.

  Several things happened all at the same time. Sarah found Mark and Kara across from her predicament, on the other side of the mass of people. They didn’t see her, but as she watched, Sarah noticed Mark swiftly and easily leave Kara’s side with a red face of fury. He slowly stalked behind Mathew with both fists clenched.

  Mathew walked around and continued kicking the other side of Connor’s ribs as he remained faced down on the concrete, still convulsing.

  Her parents and the May’s made their way to the front as well. As Sarah spotted them, they spotted her. David and her father’s features went to pure murderous expressions as they saw how Mr. V. held her hostage by the throat. Jenny, Rhoda and Jillian looked towards her in fear, shock and then it changed as a primal fury began to dominate them all. Her father and David moved side by side to come and help her. Both of their fists were clenched and they didn’t look at each other as she knew what was going to happen to her captor next.

  Sarah tore her eyes away to look back at her defenseless husband getting stunned and kicked repeatedly. She went still as she saw his face and felt his unleashed emotions nearly knock her unconscious. His face was dripping in blood, from the fall, but Connor’s eyes were looking right at her as he remained laying on the ground. His eyes were by far the most murderous of all.

  “HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Sarah and everyone present heard Connor’s battle cry for the first time. A frightening roar that put fear deep in the soul itself. His body started to convulse less as his roar ripped through the entire area. His rage consumed him.

  Everything and everyone in the courtyard went silent and still except for the continuing shocks from the stun gun. Mark stopped just a foot behind Mathew and Sarah’s rescuers stopped seven feet away to look at Connor in surprise. The arms around her neck ever so slightly eased their pressure, but still remained firm.

  A massive, pure surge of energy emanated from Connor as he gave off another loud battle cry. Sarah knew he was calling on the power of Terra to his aid because she noticed sand gathering on the ground all around him. The sand skirted barely over the concrete, as she glanced down at her feet, coming at his command.

  “HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” He roared again and this time Connor’s arms moved by his very own will.

  While the electrodes continued shocking, Connor used his arms to slowly push his body up. He then slowly brought one leg up and planted it firmly beneath himself. The sand and dirt encased and surrounded Connor’s black leather shoes, but not one set of eyes, other than hers, noticed. He still felt the shock, but not anywhere close enough to hinder his movements now. All stunned eyes watched him stand under impossible circumstances.

  Mathew still held the trigger, but stared up at Connor in total disbelief as he towered over the small child. Mathew stood far too close to her mate to make it anywhere to safety.

  It was over.

  With blinding speed, Connor grabbed Mathew by the throat and lifted him with one hand, at least two feet off the ground and held him there. Mathew should be honored that Connor didn’t crush his windpipe, but that would be the least of his problems. With Connor’s back turned to her she saw that since he touched Mathew, the electric current somehow altered direction and jumped into Mathew, through his throat. As the current went into him his hand tightened on the trigger and he became the one to convulse.

  Connor lifted him even higher and slammed Mathew on the concrete, back first as if he were a ragdoll. It was hard enough for everyone in the audience hear and feel the thud of the impact in their breast, but not enough to kill. After Mathew collided into the courtyard he dropped the stun gun and the shocking immediately ceased. Connor stopped the flow of power he emanated as the last Click died.

  Connor instantly tur
ned around to look directly at Sarah. His masculine black undershirt had become ruined in dirt, rips and holes. It was beyond repair, luckily they bought it outright and didn’t rent it. His face continued dripping and streaming in blood profusely. He looked her up and down for a moment and then set his eyes on the man who held her.

  Hazel eyes were more murderous than she has ever seen them before and his emotions washed her fear away. He was her protector and Mr. V. made the mistake of breaching a fatal line. Connor was in no mood for games. He slowly started walking and stalking in her direction and Mr. V’s. Arms tightened around her neck, but she barely noticed.

  Connor stopped and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. His spoke slowly with a voice was laced with a command and murderous intent. “I will not repeat this Mr. V.” Connor’s bloody face and body arched into another battle stance. “Take your filthy hands off my…WIFE!” Connor yelled Sarah’s title.

  Everything became even more silent. Her heart still beat wildly.

  The arms around her barely loosened and he said quietly in astonishment “Your…wife?”

  Sensing a moment to break her bonds Sarah sharply elbowed the fat man in the ribs and escaped behind her husband when the arms were loose enough. Connor’s wide back comforted her with a feeling of safety and it told her that she no longer stood in danger. Mr. V. tried running away, but as he turned around he saw five stone faced figures standing shoulder to shoulder as a barricade.

  From the left stood Jenny, Rhoda, David, Jack and Jillian. They were all standing tall and their faces were impassive, if it weren’t for all of their fists being clenched one would never knew what they were thinking. “Boy, you have screwed with the wrong family.” David said in his deep, dangerous voice.

  “You should know to never harm a lady. Especially if her husband is as big as my son-in-law.” Jack said in a menacing threat.