by Josh Vogt
He held his arms out, exposing himself to any further attacks. “I’m with them ’cause … ’cause I’m dyin’. This …” He raised his infected arm, wincing as the skin split along the elbow joint. “The Ravishing’s gonna kill me in a year. Two if I’m lucky—not that anyone would call that luck, eh? I keep workin’ for the Cleaners ’cause I figured it gave me the best chance of figurin’ out what happened to my wife. Maybe find a way to make … what’s the word? Amenities for what I let happen.”
Her eyes narrowed into molten slits. “You mean amends.”
He brushed his forefinger and thumb together, too tired to make them snap. “That’s the one. Thank ya.”
The glow in her eyes dimmed, and her voice lost its rasp as she trembled. “Ben … please … help me …”
He reached for her again, but then shielded his face as her power flared again. She dropped to her knees, face pressed to palms as waves of heat rolled off her.
“Get away from me! All of you, just leave me alone!”
“What are you waiting for, Benjamin?” Francis’ shout cut through the smoky hall. “Restrain her.”
Ben’s right arm burned, both from her touch and the Corruption within it. A single scratch would be enough. As it did with him, the Ravishing would subdue her power, making her manageable—according to the Board’s idea of management. It might even work if her power hadn’t already escalated too far.
Dani punched the floor. Stone cracked beneath the blow.
“Let me go,” she cried, though Ben sensed she didn’t shout it at any of them. “I’m me. I control this.” A shudder passed through her, and she regained some of her earlier poise. “I’ll torch you all. You’re filth! You’re nothing. Nothing!”
He clenched his hand, snapping off the brittle needles. “You got this. I bet my bucket on it.”
Her responding sob made him want to rush in and hug her tight, but the heat kept him at bay. That’s when Francis signaled the teams, and the Ascendants closed in.
Dani reared up, arms raised, hands clutching. “I can hear your heartbeats! I can feel your breaths. I can taste your ******* footsteps! You fleshbags disgust me.”
Miniature volcanoes erupted through the floor and surrounded her and Ben. Lava spouted through the buckled marble, cutting off the encroaching Cleaners. Cries echoed as the mounds grew twice as high as Ben.
He dropped to the floor beside her, as close as he could bear without frying his face off. Fiery missiles soared overhead, and the two of them knelt within the ring of fire as the earth shook. Ben cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
“You gotta let it go. I promise everythin’s gonna be all right. I’ll tell you everythin’. No more secrets, or I’ll eat my mop.”
Molten tears streaked her face as she looked to him. Her mouth moved, the words too quiet for him to hear, but he read her lips well enough.
I’m afraid.
He smiled sadly as he mouthed back. Yeah. Me too.
Her eyes squeezed shut. The cloaking fires burned all the brighter, as if resisting her attempts to extinguish them. She slammed her fists to the floor over and over, striking out at an unseen target.
The flames turned white and blue, too bright for him to look at directly. The rest of his water armor evaporated, and he huddled as the heat threatened to turn him into a side of bacon.
As if pinched out by a giant forefinger and thumb, the flames vanished. As they did, the cauldron of fire pouring from the furnace subsided and the miniature volcanoes stopped chugging lava. The heat seeped away unnaturally fast, leaving black rock, pumice trails, and ash drifting from the ceiling. Blessed silence and coolness settled over the room.
Shouts started up around what was left of the hall. Ascendants scrambled over the tiny mountain range she’d conjured. As they did, Ben and Dani lay there, too weak to do anything other than stare at each other. Her arms covered her body as best they could, as the banishment of the fire hadn’t returned her white robe. But Ben was too old and too exhausted for her nakedness to make him even slightly uncomfortable.
She managed a lopsided smile. “I did it.”
His chuckle split his cracked and burnt lips. “That you did. Proud of you.”
“Ben … I’m sorry …”
“Aw, shucks. Ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed of. We all gotta let ourselves throw a temper tantrum or two. You shoulda been there when I hit puberty.”
She propped up on an elbow. “Did you really mean it? About telling me everything?”
“Sure for shootin’. Let’s start off with somethin’ that’s gonna work up a tizzy. I ain’t really—”
A black garbage bag snapped down over Dani’s head. She cried out and started to struggle, but a trio of Ascendants strapped her hands behind her back and zip-tied her wrists together. She writhed on the floor, screams muffled.
Ben shouted and lurched up to help her, but arms hooked around his elbows and a knee jammed into the small of his back and pinned him in place.
***
Chapter Twenty-four
Dani’s feeble kicks stopped as her panicked adrenaline rush drained away. Her breathing was loud in her ears, and the bag stuck to her sweat, smelling of plastic.
While blind, at least she didn’t suffocate. Every time she drew an unsteady breath, fresh air swirled into the bag and then whisked away with her exhalation. A magical ventilation system? More Cleaner tricks, she guessed. But a garbage bag? They were treating her like trash. Like Scum.
“Lemme go! You idiots. She controlled it. It’s over. There’s gotta be hundreds of Cleansers runnin’ around here. Get on them and stop hasslin’ us.”
Ben’s distant voice was punctuated by scuffling. What were they doing to him?
Her captors dragged her upright and marched her over the barrier she’d erected. The ruptured stone cut her feet, and she stumbled. They lifted and carried her along like a bundle of soggy newspaper. Ben coughed and groaned beside her, and she wondered how badly the old janitor had been hurt.
When they halted, she sensed a crowd of people around them, and cringed. She stood naked and bound, unable to even cover herself. The shame burned almost as hot as the power she’d wielded. Words hissed inside her, sounding like water thrown on live coals.
You see? This is how your life will always be. Leashed like a bitch trained to beg for her treats.
Dani scowled inside the bag and shoved down on the rising presence. You won’t control me again. And cut out the cursing. If I can’t, then you get to zip it.
Laughter flared deep in her mind, but the voice didn’t return.
“Is she secured?”
Francis’ footsteps clicked across the stones as he approached. The Ascendant holding her right arm answered.
“Yes, sir. Completely neutralized.”
Ben spoke on her right. “Francis! Whatcha think you’re doin’? You gone a few kicks short of a can-can?”
“This is procedure, Janitor Benjamin. I’m cleaning up yet another mess you’ve made.”
“Dani ain’t responsible for what happened. You got no right to truss her up.”
Dani bristled at the Ascendant’s weary sigh.
“She’s dangerous, Benjamin. In fact, she seems even more out of control now than she did when first given to your care. I knew from the start it was a mistake. I’m saddened it took this much death and destruction to prove me right.”
“You’re gonna blame her for what the Cleansers started?” Ben said. “If you didn’t have slop for brains, you mighta noticed the only reason we ain’t all charred bone right now is ’cause she pushed through a purgin’ ceremony that woulda driven anyone else crazy.”
Dani shivered at the fresh memory of the possession. It had been like looking out through another’s eyes, except … it had still been her. A version of herself surrendered to the seductive power, apathetic toward anyone else. That part of Dani hadn’t given a flea’s nipple about who would live or die, so long as she got her way. Everyone and everything
had been expendable. Was that what a sociopath felt like?
“The Cleansers will be dealt with,” Francis said. “My scrub-team is sweeping this compound.”
Someone called from the far end of the hall. “It’s good to see things under control. However, I am still tempted to let my temper get the better of me.”
Dani rejoiced as she recognized Destin’s voice—a feeling she’d never expected to associate with him. By the multitude of approaching footsteps, she figured the Chairman had brought his own team. Finally, a break. Things would get cleared up and this bag would be taken off her head.
“Chairman,” Ben said, relief clear in his voice. “Glad you hustled on over. Would you mind tellin’ Francis to get his paws off my apprentice?”
Dani rolled her shoulders, ready to give the Francis a nasty glare once she could see again. However, shock shoved her indignation aside when Destin replied.
“No. I am afraid I cannot allow that. Ascendant Francis, nullify Janitor Benjamin as well.”
“What?” Ben’s roar would’ve sent an angry bear scrambling back into hibernation.
“Sir?” For the first time, Dani detected doubt in Francis’ voice. “I don’t see the necessity of—”
“Are you refusing a direct order?” Destin’s chilly tone raised goosebumps on Dani’s arms.
Silence. Then Ben snarled and shouts erupted. An elbow bruised her shoulder, and her guards struggled to keep her upright as bodies jostled them.
Ben grunted as if struck, and his threats became a smothered string of unintelligible growls. Fear spiked through Dani’s chest as she realized he’d been restrained too. However, the emotional surge didn’t cause any reaction from her power. Something negated it, whether the garbage bag or the Ascendants’ auras.
People muttered around her until Francis silenced them with a cough.
“Chairman, I in no way debate your authority, but can you enlighten me as to why this is necessary?”
“I read your report,” Destin said.
“My report? But, sir, I—”
“Just because you didn’t deliver it to me does not mean I lack access to it. You remain thorough in recording events and observations, but your perception failed you in this instance. Specifically, you have underestimated exactly how far Janitor Benjamin has fallen, and how effective he is at manipulating our perceptions, including using the girl to divert attention from himself.”
“Destin,” Ben sounded as if he stood in another room, “I’m this close to—”
More shuffling by Dani’s side, and then a harsh whisper from Francis. “Benjamin, for Purity’s sake, be quiet and let me handle this.” He cleared his throat. “Sir, I’m not sure I understand.”
“In just the past day,” Destin said, “Janitor Benjamin was witnessed associating with a garbage man, something he has been forbidden from doing numerous times. He also was the first to report Sydney’s presence, which you neglected to inform me of. Speaking of which, how did you learn of this location, Ascendant Francis? I was only made aware of the situation through chance and followed you here.”
“Sir, perhaps if we waited until we are back at Headquarters, I could—”
Heat slapped against Dani, and a flaring aura stung her eyes, even through the bag.
Destin’s voice boomed throughout the chamber. “Ascendant Francis, might I remind you that there is a chain of authority within the Cleaners for a reason? You seem to have forgotten your place in it. When I ask, you answer. When I command, you obey. The effectiveness of my position is entirely based on the information I receive, how I decide to act on it, and the people I trust to carry out my will. If this situation had been ignored much longer, it might have gone beyond any hope of containment. As it stands, we have little time to fix the damage. No more delays. No more excuses, otherwise you will be suspended without pay until further notice, if not demoted to bucket work.”
Feet shuffled, and Dani imagined she heard Francis’ spine pop as he came to attention.
“My apologies, Chairman,” he said. “These oversights will not happen again.”
“Correct, because I am now in direct control of this cleanup operation. Do you wish to know what else I gleaned from your report?”
“Gladly, Chairman.”
“Janitor Benjamin’s meeting with Sydney was not coincidence or accidental. As horrible as it is for me to comprehend, I cannot think of any other purpose for it than to seduce Ms. Hashelheim to Corruption, rather than being the antagonistic encounter Benjamin might have you believe.”
“What?” Ben and Dani spouted in muffled unison.
“The destruction of the bar lends credibility to the story of an attack,” Destin continued, “but if Sydney had confronted them with murderous intent, we all know they would not have escaped unharmed.”
“Spit on your soul, Destin,” Ben cried. “I ain’t got a clue what you think this is gonna get you, but Sydney’s still out there, and—”
“Sydney has been captured,” said Francis. “I interrogated him myself. That’s how I knew where to find the Cleansers. He directed us here.”
A few heartbeats thudded by. Ben’s voice rumbled with suspicion. “When?”
“A few hours after we finished cleaning out the dump,” Francis said. “He was discovered spying on our scrub-team and is being held in an isolation chamber, thoroughly neutralized.”
“Now that’s a plain ol’ trick if I ever heard of one,” Ben said.
“Perhaps he intended it as such,” Francis replied. “But he underestimated our capacity to counter his entropic power. I intended to alert you to this development, Chairman, but our time to act was limited.”
Dani strained to get a sense of Destin’s mood. He couldn’t actually believe what he was saying, could he? It was all wrong. He should be rescuing them.
“I will deal with Sydney later,” Destin said. “For now, observe how the condition of Benjamin’s Ravishing is significantly worse than last observed. What does this evidence? Few things would accelerate the decay this much—in fact, I believe it comes from nothing less than direct contact with an entity from the Corrupt Pantheon. Janitor? What do you say to this?”
“You wanna know the truth? Sydney hustled us here against our will,” Ben said. “He handed Dani over to the Cleansers as part of some deal, and then had a little kumbaya time with Filth, offerin’ her tea and biscuits in exchange for tidbits on whatever’s churnin’ up all the muck we’ve been wadin’ through.”
“Filth?” Destin’s voice went low and hard. “You spoke to her? You allowed her to infect your mind with deceit?”
“No,” Ben said, frustration burred his words. “For Purity’s sake, lemme explain.”
“I’m sorry, Benjamin,” Destin said. “As much as it pains me to say, you are too Corrupted to be trusted further. Has the Ravishing finally reached your heart? Perhaps your mind?”
“I ain’t Corrupted,” Ben said. “Purity still signs my paychecks.”
“Then explain the Cleanser lying dead with his brains rotted out of his skull and his blood turned to bile.”
“That’s—”
“Yes?”
Ben curdled phlegm in the back of his throat and then hocked a wad. “I’m done talkin’ to you, Destin. You got things all nice and twisted-like.” He shifted beside Dani, and she caught a whiff of bleach through the bag. “Francis, use your noggin. Do the right thing.”
“He will do what is necessary,” the Chairman said. “You, on the other hand, will be dealt with as the Board sees fit. I’ll argue for a merciful sentence.” Ben started to protest, but Destin spoke over him. “I wanted to trust you in this, but the time has come to remove you from service. Ascendant Francis, prepare your team.”
“As you say, Chairman.”
Ben asked, “Whatcha gonna do with Dani?”
“Her fate is no longer your concern,” Destin said. “Her place among us will have to be reevaluated, given the circumstances. I can only hope she is salvageable.”<
br />
“Destin …”
“Hm?”
“You are one maggoty, mud-rakin’, pus-drinkin’, son of a motherless billy goat!” Ben grunted in satisfaction. “There you go, Francis. Have fun convincin’ the Board to add any of those to the list.”
Footsteps echoed as the Chairman moved away. “Take them back to Headquarters. Use all precautions. Should they resist in any manner, apply lethal force.”
***
Chapter Twenty-five
Already blinded, Dani lost any sense of sound as soon as Destin condemned them to whatever constituted a prison in the Cleaners’ facilities. Only touch remained.
Rough hands forced her to walk and kept her up when she stumbled. The floor turned from broken stone to smooth marble. A single act of decency came when they lifted her legs one at a time and untied her arms to maneuver her into a full-body jumpsuit that zipped up the back. She never thought she’d feel relieved at being stuffed into one of the Cleaner uniforms again, even though they didn’t provide gloves this time. She tried to peek out from under the bag without success.
The suit better not have turned pink on her.
Her arms were resecured, and they shoved her along again. After another few minutes of walking, there came a brief pause, followed by several measured steps forward. A chilly, liquid sensation passed over her. Where it touched the exposed part of her neck, it left it feeling numb for a moment. She recognized it as the same sensation from when Ben took her through the window portal on the way to see Destin. So they’d been transported back to HQ through one of their glassways.
They strode onward, the floor now cold tile, the air dry in contrast to her increasingly damp skin. What was it with her sweat glands lately? She didn’t need them to let her know she was nervous.
Anxiety rose with each step until she felt she might drown in it, give way to the panic and make a fruitless attempt to escape. This would accomplish nothing but exhaust her further and perhaps give them reason to switch her over to a straitjacket. Still, the dread kept notching up, heightened by the almost complete sensory deprivation. She tried to reel her thoughts in, to give herself an anchoring focus.