by Black, Chuck
“Never mind. Why you learn tae kwon do?”
Drew had never thought about it before. “Ah … I guess because my mentor thought I might need it someday.”
“To fight someone?”
“To defend myself … and others.”
Master Lee didn’t seem satisfied. “We learn tae kwon do so we do not have to fight.”
Drew thought about that for a moment. It was a different philosophy than the Special Forces philosophy. “There are innocent people who do not know how to fight. I learn to fight for them.”
Master Lee squinted and frowned. After a long ten seconds, he broke his glare. “Mr. Chi!”
The other instructor appeared before them. Mr. Chi looked a little older than Drew and had two stripes on his black belt—a second degree. Drew had no idea what to expect based on the degree of black belt, for he didn’t know where Jake’s skill level might fall. For all he knew, he was a novice, but he doubted it.
“Spar with Mr. Ryan,” Master Lee commanded.
Mr. Chi’s eyes widened, and he made a quick assessment of Drew in his T-shirt and jeans. He questioned Master Lee with his eyes, but Master Lee just stepped back and crossed his arms.
“Strike him,” he commanded.
Mr. Chi bowed and took up a sparring stance. Drew followed suit. He could feel his senses kick in as he watched and evaluated his opponent. The first strike came, and Drew deflected and sidestepped but did not counter. Then came a side kick, but that too was deflected. After three more mild attacks, it became apparent that Mr. Chi would hold back no more.
Drew prepared himself and became absorbed in the fight. He met each blow and kick without a single one landing on his body. Mr. Chi’s frustration mounted, and he attacked with more force and intensity until Drew saw the perfect opportunity to strike. He ducked beneath a roundhouse kick, then countered with a spinning wheel kick that struck Mr. Chi square in the chest.
“Break!” Master Lee stepped between them. “You are dismissed, Mr. Chi. Thank you.”
Mr. Chi looked frustrated and a bit humiliated. He wasn’t ready to stop just yet. Drew bowed low to honor him, and Mr. Chi responded likewise.
Master Lee stepped in front of Drew. “You are”—Master Lee seemed to search his vocabulary for the right word—“unrefined. But very quick. No kicking. Block my strikes.”
Drew readied himself for the first blow, and it came much faster and stronger than anything from Mr. Chi. It startled him. The strikes continued, and Drew’s reactions kicked into overdrive. Fists, forearms, and elbows moved in a blur between them. Drew had never had to move so fast for so long. After deflecting thirty-some strikes, he was becoming weary. Master Lee finished with a knife hand strike to Drew’s neck. As the strike came in, Drew did not block but instead grabbed Master Lee’s wrist. Master Lee stopped and stared deep into Drew’s eyes. Drew released his grip, stepped back, and bowed.
“You are unusual, Mr. Ryan. I will train you, and you will fight for me in tournament.”
“No, Master Lee. I will not fight in any tournaments.”
Master Lee resumed his disappointed frown. Apparently he was not used to being told no. “What you want, Mr. Ryan?”
Drew smiled. “I want a job, sir.”
Master Lee shook his head. “You must train. To not train is waste. I will train you, then decide on tournament.” Master Lee nodded as if Drew had agreed. “Three nights each week.” He turned away.
Drew dropped his gaze to the floor. “I can’t pay.”
“Train first, pay later.” Master Lee seemed annoyed.
“What about the job, Master Lee?”
By now Master Lee was walking away, toward the back of the gym. He grunted some incoherent Korean words and shook his head. “Eight o’clock. If late, you fired.”
“Thank you, sir!” This was better than he had hoped for. A strange thought came to mind. “Master Lee. There is one thing I need to learn first.”
Master Lee stopped and looked back at Drew.
“I need to learn how to dodge bullets.”
Master Lee’s stoic face broke into a wide grin. “Ha! You funny boy, Mr. Ryan.” He walked to the back of his gym, shaking his head and mumbling and laughing to himself.
19
DODGING BULLETS
Drew began delivering Korean food on a bicycle he had found for cheap. But after a few days, when Drew arrived at work one morning, Master Lee threw his keys at Drew.
“You too slow. Buy gas and do not wreck car.”
Drew was ecstatic. Now he could cover much more territory in his search for Ben.
The first few classes Drew attended with Master Lee were spent testing the extent of his abilities. Drew came to appreciate the martial arts genius of Master Lee. The man was much more than a seventh-degree black belt. He was an analyzer of personality and human potential. Some of the things he had Drew do didn’t make sense, at least not at first, but Drew began looking forward to his training because it stretched him beyond anything he had ever experienced. After each session, Master Lee appeared more somber than usual. At the end of the second week, Master Lee came to Drew in the silence and solitude of his empty gym.
“I will not train you anymore,” Master Lee said flatly.
Drew was perplexed. What had he done wrong? “Why, Master Lee? I’m learning so much from you.”
Master Lee squinted with a fierce look. He pointed a finger at Drew’s chest. “What you are, no one has ever been or should be. I think darkness follows you.”
Drew’s mouth opened, but he didn’t know how to respond. How could Master Lee have known? How much dared Drew reveal? He scanned the gym. “Master Lee, you are right.”
At that, Master Lee pulled back his hand and straightened his shoulders. He waited.
Drew struggled for the right words. “Darkness does follow me and is indeed already here.”
Master Lee’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
“But I am here to fight the darkness, and not just for me, but for everyone. If I am to survive and help many people, I need your help to discover and perfect my abilities.”
Master Lee stared at Drew, still as a stone statue. Drew knew that he was considering every shred of information, piece by piece, in a logical way. And then his eyes softened and a decision was made. At that moment, something changed between them. Master Lee had discovered and confirmed something supernatural. He nodded, and Drew could see understanding in his instructor’s gaze.
“Master Lee … no one can know … ever.”
In that instant, the magnitude of Drew’s mission became Master Lee’s, and Drew could tell that the severity and sober realization of what was at stake penetrated his instructor’s understanding. From that day on, Drew’s training became singularly purposeful. No martial arts instructor in the world had ever had to train such a man as Drew, and as Drew was stretched to his limits, so was Master Lee. Both teacher and student became obsessed in the challenge of it, and Drew’s abilities transcended that of mortal men.
As Drew’s skills improved, he became challenged with keeping his identity and mission secret while trying to help people against the devastating attacks of the invaders and those they influenced. Such as the local gang. Everyone in this area of the city knew all too well how fierce the Dragons were. Even the police were hesitant to venture into their territory.
Drew couldn’t understand the invaders’ tactics, except that they always caused chaos and discord among humans. He caught glimpses of a command structure and realized that in the ghettos of Chicago, only the minions were working. Perhaps that was why he was able to stay under their radar. On the scale of influencing humanity, Drew was nothing, and he needed to keep it that way as long as possible.
It wasn’t long into Drew’s training when Master Lee implemented what he called the suk dahl, or in Drew’s words, bullet dodging. At first it involved a high-speed airsoft pistol, but when Drew proved proficient, Master Lee elevated his training with chest and face protection, rub
ber bullets, and a Glock 21 handgun.
After discovering just how painful rubber bullets were, even with protection, his senses needed no goading to ramp up to full capacity. Through the suk dahl training, Drew discovered that his best results came when he was close enough to focus on the aim of the gun and move his body the instant before the trigger was pulled. Inside of twenty feet, if he waited until the round exploded, he was not quick enough to dodge the bullet. Outside of forty feet, his eyes could not pick up the bullet or predict the sight picture until it was too late. He learned those margins well and practiced until he had mastered the technique.
On that day, Master Lee seemed stunned.
When Drew received his first paycheck, he tried to pay Master Lee for some of the lessons, but his teacher refused.
“What I have seen, and learned, cannot be purchased.” He looked at Drew with eyes of wonderment. “You are here for a purpose, Mr. Ryan … Use your life wisely.”
DREW KEPT VOLUNTEERING each week at Emmanuel Church and became friends with Reverend Ray. One week Drew came to the church and noticed a blue fifteen-passenger van parked out front. Two light invaders stood guard near the front of the church. It wasn’t unusual for a light invader to be near the premises of the church, but this seemed a little out of the ordinary. These were two that Drew had never seen before. He entered the church to discover the food-serving line was occupied by smiling young people. Ray met him at the door near the front of the church with a grin that was bigger than usual.
“Ryan! It’s good to see you. Look at how the Lord is working here today!” He motioned to the college-aged helpers.
“What’s up, Reverend?”
“Campus Ministries from Drayle University is here this week to teach vacation Bible school for the neighborhood and wanted to help with the soup kitchen in the evenings.”
Drayle? Could it be …
Drew’s heart skipped a beat as he saw his beautiful Sydney walk out from the kitchen carrying a pan of food. Her hair was tied up in the back with a few strands dangling near her temples. She looked so content and joyful in her work. Seeing her warmed him from the inside out. It took every ounce of control not to run to her.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to them.” Ray pulled on Drew’s arm. “I’ve already told them about you.”
“No, I can’t. I’ve got some things I need to take care of.”
Ray looked disappointed. He turned and faced Drew. “God is working on you, Ryan, but I’m not going to push you and neither will they. They’re wonderful kids, and I know they’d love to meet you.”
Drew watched as Sydney exchanged the food tray and smiled at a little old woman in the line. Even from one hundred feet away he loved her smile … he missed her smile.
“Thanks, Reverend, but I really can’t.”
Ray’s eyes saddened. “Okay, Ryan. If that’s what you want.”
Drew huffed. It wasn’t at all what he wanted, but it had to be. Reverend Ray turned to leave. “Reverend.”
“Yes?”
“How long will they be here?”
“Three more days.”
“Any idea where they are staying?”
“I heard them say the Travel Host, downtown Chicago.”
Drew nodded. “Thanks.” He took one more look at Sydney and realized she was looking his way. He turned and left. It hurt.
Drew walked away from the church, but after one block he stopped. He looked up at the darkening sky that was threatening rain. He was compelled to go back, so he retraced his steps and sat down on the steps of an apartment building across the street, watching.
The light invaders were still there.
Drew evaluated over and over again the risk of contacting Sydney, and though his heart pleaded to do so, all logic and reason forbade it. He had already nearly caused her death. She was safest away from him, and yet … he couldn’t bring himself to leave his watchful perch.
The late day disappeared into night as Emmanuel Church finished its duty to a few blocks of the hungry and poor of Chicago. Drew told himself that if he could see Sydney just one more time, he would be released and could let her go. As the night blackened, dark invaders appeared with shady human companions. The two light invaders took note and drew their swords. They were alert and ready, as if expecting an attack. Apparently the presence of the students at the church was causing a heightened level of invader activity.
Drew leaned forward. Two … three … four dark invaders lurked nearby. The light invaders stood back to back with swords drawn. Drew felt his pulse quicken and his senses heighten. Why?
Reverend Ray opened the door and took a moment to speak with the college ministry leader. Distant thunder echoed off the walls of the shops and apartments that lined the street. That was when the invaders attacked. Drew stood, chills flowing up and down his spine. All four dark invaders came at the van in a blur. The two light invaders met them head on, each one slicing and countering the onslaught from the vicious dark warriors. Their movements were so quick that Drew had a hard time following them.
One dark invader jumped on top of the van and came down at one of the light invaders from fifteen feet above, brandishing both a grisly sword and a handgun. The light invader made one quick slice that found its mark deep in an opponent’s chest, then turned, dodged two rounds, and used the brick wall of the church to launch himself at the dark invader attacking from above. His sword deflected another round before the two massive warriors collided midair and crashed to the ground in a fury of steel and blows. The other light invader caught a slice off his left shoulder, his red blood staining the blade of his ruthless opponent. Now wounded and facing two fierce attackers, his fate looked desperate.
Drew started to move toward the battle not knowing what he could do but unable to remain still at the terrible sight of it. Just then a white flash flew from behind him toward the battle … another light invader—
It was Wallace!
He sped toward the light invader who was in retreat and fighting for his life, now up against the brick wall of the church and desperate. Wallace changed his angle toward the van, where one of the students was just opening the back door. Wallace planted his foot against the opening door, which the student seemed to have to pull a little harder to open, and launched himself toward the dark invader executing a final, killing blow on the failing light invader. With one wide, arcing slice, Wallace’s blade cut clear through the dark invader. The evil body began dissolving into wisps of green vapor that fell down into the earth.
Now the dark invaders were outnumbered, and it looked as though the battle might be over. Drew watched as one of the dark invaders yelled out in desperation. Whatever he said, Wallace looked concerned. Rather than taking on another duel, he turned and scanned up and down the street.
A car horn bellowed from Drew’s right. He had walked into the street, gawking at the ferocious fight that was happening all around the unsuspecting college students. Drew jumped back onto the curb as a car whizzed past him, the driver cursing obscenities as he went. The students began piling into the van. Drew saw Sydney exit the church at the same time that Wallace caught sight of something dreadful and prepared himself. Drew followed his gaze, and what he saw shook him to the very core of his humanity.
The battle at Emmanuel Church was far from over.
20
BATTLE OF THE BEAST
Drew stood, frozen, as a creature from a graphic horror film appeared from behind a building just fifty feet away. The fanged beast larger than a horse came charging up the street, its mouth snarling, its blood-red eyes flashing. Part grizzly, part wolf, part dragon, this creature invoked terror in Drew’s heart unlike anything he had ever experienced. And yet Wallace stood firm and resolute in his defense of the students.
The other dark invaders continued their attack as Wallace drew a short blade to accompany his gleaming white sword against the unearthly beast of destruction. With yet thirty feet to close, the grotesque beast launched into the air
for a chilling, powerful lunge at the light invaders.
Wallace did not retreat nor wait. He catapulted himself toward the beast, diving and twisting his body so that he flew just beneath the attacking monster. The beast struck viciously at him from above with powerful four-inch claws, but Wallace’s long blade found its mark first, slicing deep into the creature’s underbelly as he passed below. The creature screamed at the same moment that a lightning bolt exploded above them in deafening thunder.
Drew vaguely heard the startled scream of one of the girls entering the van. The tail of the beast swung downward, pounding into Wallace from the side. The impact loosed his grip on the sword, and it skidded out of reach along the pavement. Strangely, this weapon did not dissolve. Wallace hit the ground and rolled to a crouching position, his short blade at the ready, while drawing an FN Five-Seven handgun from a side holster.
The beast slammed into the ground and fell up against the van. It jostled, but Drew couldn’t tell if it was from the beast or the students jockeying for seats inside. In the middle of the street, Wallace attacked first this time, before the beast could orient itself. Blood dripped from the deep gash in the beast to the asphalt street, and Drew was shocked that it was still alive. Wallace charged, emptying the twenty-round magazine into its head and chest, but its effect seemed minimal. Just as he reached the creature, it lashed out with its grisly talons and struck him across the chest, tearing open his coat and skin with four deep gashes. Wallace flew like a rag doll up against the brick wall of the church, then fell to the concrete in a heap.
Drew stepped back into the street toward the church, watching helplessly as the beast moved toward a stunned and shaken Wallace, who let the empty gun fall beside him to take a double-handed grip on his short blade. The FN dissolved away. Wallace rose up to one knee but seemed too dazed to fight. The beast lunged once more, but Drew could tell its wounds were taking a toll. Just as the razor-sharp teeth were about to snap closed on Wallace, he leaped upward in a spinning, twisting maneuver that brought him down on the back of the beast. He sank his sword deep into its thick black hide. It cried out once more, then fell and dissolved to green nothingness.