by Black, Chuck
Wallace fell to the ground through the dissolving mist. The gashes across his chest looked painful and even fatal for a normal man. Once the other two dark invaders saw the death of their beast, they retreated, but not before one of them managed to slice his sword through the left front tire of the van as he went. And they did not retreat far. Drew could hear the faint hiss of escaping air.
Reverend Ray smiled and waved as the van drove off; then he went back into the church and closed and locked the doors. Drew watched two dark invaders join with three more to follow the van. He turned to look at Wallace, who gave orders to the one light invader who had not been injured. That invader took off after the van. Wallace looked toward Drew, and Drew didn’t pretend he couldn’t see him.
Too much had happened … too much to ignore.
He looked into Wallace’s eyes for the first time. Tousles of black hair hung down toward penetrating pale-blue eyes that nearly glowed in the night. There was pain and concern in them. They were ancient eyes that caused Drew to tremble. It was an eerie moment. Drew broke his gaze and looked at the retreating van with the light invader following close behind. Some of the dark invaders had caught up to the van and were riding on the ceiling. Drew took one more glance toward Wallace and saw him subtly shake his head. Drew knew what that meant, but Sydney was in that van.
This night of tragedy was far from over.
Were they after Sydney specifically? It almost seemed so. He bolted down the sidewalk after the van. By the sound of the air he had heard escaping the tire, they wouldn’t make it more than three or four blocks.
Drew ran as fast as he could, but the van quickly outdistanced him. Up ahead, he saw them turn left toward the highway and directly into six blocks of some of the worst gang-infested areas of Chicago. Drew forced his legs to run faster. Long minutes passed before Drew reached the corner where the van had turned.
Three blocks ahead, he could see the van pulled off to the right of the road. His lungs hurt, but what he saw next made him push even harder. Up ahead, a number of dark invaders were conversing in the street, and two low riders were pulling into positions at the front and rear of the van. Drew whipped out his phone and dialed 911 to report a crime in progress. He gave the address and hung up, hoping it would be enough to get the police there but also fearing they would be too late.
Drew sprinted down an alleyway and then between two buildings toward the sidewalk, where the gang members had accosted the students. He stayed in the shadows, needing to discover what was going down.
Five gang members surrounded the van. By their colors and markings he recognized them as Dragons. They had the students, who looked terrified, lined up against the van. Sydney was in the middle of the group. The light invader was nowhere to be found, but three dark invaders were pacing and whispering into the Dragons’ ears.
“Wallets and purses … now! Cell phones too … all of them,” he heard the gang leader say.
“I’ve already called the police,” the ministry leader said. “Please don’t hurt anyone.”
The gang leader sneered and glared at him face to face, just inches away. The man was trying to be brave, but his darting eyes and sweating brow betrayed him. He was a clean-shaven man in his early thirties. Spiked dark hair, glasses, soft hands, and pale skin told Drew the man was not a fighter. Just be quiet …
“That’s not phat, busta. Police be scared here ’cause this our turf.” The Dragon smiled. “No help comin’. You be in our turf, you pay.” His sickening smile twisted into an evil sneer. He jammed his gun into the ministry leader’s temple and shouted just inches away from the man’s face, “So shut up!”
At least one other Dragon had a gun, and several had knives. The odds were bad … very bad. If all the Dragons took was the students’ money, he would let it go. It would mean the least possible threat to the students.
“Don’t hide nothin’ or you’ll get stuck … get it?” The Dragon leader’s arms were tattooed with snakes, dragons, knives, and skulls from both shoulders to his wrists. Some cryptic words were tattooed up his neck to his temple and across his forehead. A blue skullcap covered his shaven head. He had piercings on his face, lips, and ears. And he was the one that a dark invader worked on relentlessly.
Drew saw Sydney lower her head, and knew she was praying. He pitied her—if she could see what he saw, she wouldn’t waste her time. A dark invader whispered to one of the Dragons, and he pushed Sydney up against the van.
“Yo … eyes on us, dime.”
Two Dragons collected the wallets and purses and threw them into the car parked behind the van.
“Very nice, kiddies.” The leader smiled, then turned to the two who had collected the valuables. “Get it to the dome.”
They jumped in their car as the Dragon leader turned back to the students. “Back in the van.”
The ministry leader tried to step aside and let the students in before him, but a Dragon shoved him.
“Get in!”
The students began piling back in the van, but the Dragon leader pulled Sydney and another girl out of the line.
“You two dimes be with me.”
One of the students just ahead of Sydney turned around. “No!”
The leader smashed the grip of his handgun into the student’s head, slamming him up against the side of the van. “Stupid reaker!”
Drew couldn’t wait any longer.
He pulled his hood over his head, stepped out onto the sidewalk, and started walking toward the van. He was just twenty feet away when the Dragon leader shoved the bleeding male student into the van. Drew closed the distance as quickly as he dared. There was enough commotion for him to get within just a few feet of the ruckus before one of the Dragons saw him and pointed a gun at his face.
“Be gone, stupid!”
Drew saw the dark invaders move to his rear, readying their swords. Light invaders must be advancing too.
He lowered his head and held up his hands. The gun was inches from his face, so his hands bracketed each side. He didn’t hesitate. With one lightning move, he snapped both hands inward, his right hand landing just behind the Dragon’s wrist and his left hand grabbing the gun. He twisted his hand to the inside, toward his open grip, and before the Dragon knew what had happened, Drew took the gun from him.
Drew spun inward toward the Dragon, slamming his left elbow into the gang member’s temple, knocking him out cold. As the man fell, Drew pulled the slide of the .45 ACP to expel one round and chamber another to verify its load. The cocking was complete by the time the unconscious Dragon hit the pavement.
Drew evaluated his next threat. The Dragon with the knife was closest at just five feet to his right, while the leader was behind and to the left, near the van—and the two girls. Both men turned on Drew, the leader bringing his gun to bear. Drew’s mind and body accelerated as he considered his options. Dodge? Shoot? Strike? Predicting the ricochet and potential shrapnel fly-out from shooting the Dragon’s gun was too difficult, especially with Sydney so close. The risk was too great. He was close enough to see, predict, and dodge one bullet if that was all he concentrated on, but if the Dragon shot three or four rounds in quick succession, he would be in trouble.
He stopped and focused on the Dragon leader fifteen feet away, watching his trigger finger. The Dragon with the knife froze when he saw that Drew was armed.
“Hey … that’s … that’s the Guardian!” The Dragon with the knife took two steps back.
“Leave!” Drew said.
He saw the decision made in the Dragon leader’s eyes before his finger even moved. Drew dodged, the primer fired and the bullet whizzed past his right shoulder, almost in slow motion. He heard screams in the van and from the girl beside Sydney; then he saw a flash of swords to his left but stayed his attention on his own world. The Dragon with the knife actually dropped his weapon and backed away, his hands up as he turned and ran. The Dragon leader turned to grab Sydney as a shield. The only thing that could cover the distance in t
ime was a bullet, so Drew pinpointed the Dragon’s shoulder socket and fired just as the Dragon squeezed off another round. This bullet traveled in slow motion too, but with his concentration on aiming, Drew couldn’t predict or move in time to avoid the Dragon’s shot. The spinning hollow point was moving directly at his heart and there was nothing he could do about it. With all his might he twisted, but his muscles simply were not as fast as his mind. Fear swallowed him as the bullet reached out to take his life, but in the final fraction of a second, something flashed.
A white steel blade swung from above to intercept the bullet.
Drew watched as the slug deflected at just enough of an angle to nick his sweatshirt, but that was all. Wallace completed his twisting dive, landing on his feet next to the building near the sidewalk. Life shattered back to full speed. He heard the scream of the gang leader as his gun fell to the sidewalk. The Dragon backed away toward his car, clutching his shoulder and shouting an endless string of obscenities.
Drew grabbed Sydney and pulled her back toward the van as the man stumbled into his car and screeched down the street. Drew caught a glimpse of Wallace as he staggered toward the narrow walkway that led to the alley. Sirens came from up the street.
“Is it you?”
The hushed and frightened question came from Sydney. Drew leaned her up against the van, then lifted the other girl off the sidewalk and into the van. He wiped the grip of the gun he was holding and was about to throw it into the gutter—if by some chance the police tracked him down and he was in possession of a gun, no excuses would save him. Still, what if the Dragons came back? He weighed the risks, then lifted his sweatshirt and tucked the .45 in his belt, at the back, and covered it. He came to Sydney and held her face.
“Drew … it’s you.” Tears pooled in her eyes and she was trembling.
“Don’t tell them it was me. Promise me!”
Sydney nodded. The sirens were almost on them. She reached for him, but he slipped away. He dashed back between the buildings and into the alley. Flashing red lights reflected down the narrow walkway behind him. Drew ran, looking up and down the darkened lane. Across the way, just twenty feet to his right, Wallace was leaning heavily on one arm against a brick wall. His other hand cradled the deep gash in his chest. Drew approached, not sure what consequences would result from such an action. But this was the second time this invader had saved his life. Did he dare approach this warrior of another realm?
Wallace peered at Drew through dark eyebrows, and Drew stopped, afraid to come closer. Then Wallace turned and leaned his shoulder against the wall and sank to his knees. He grimaced as he lowered his head. Tousles of sweat-soaked black hair hung over his brows.
Down the alley, Drew could see two dark invaders lurking in the shadows. They were focused on Wallace, apparently not sure whether to attack or run. Their swords were drawn, and their apprehensive approach told Drew that this light warrior was feared, even when wounded. Drew looked for help and protection from other light invaders, but there were none to be seen.
The sirens grew louder, then stopped—the police were in the street, just on the other side of the building. Flashing red and blue lights reflected into the dim alleyway. Drew went to Wallace and knelt down on one knee before him. Thunder crackled across the sky, and Drew felt the first minuscule drops of rain. Wallace looked at Drew with fierce, pained eyes. What was he thinking? Drew reached out and tried to touch his shoulder, but his hand passed right through him. He watched Wallace’s lips move in silence.
“I can’t hear you,” Drew said.
Wallace grimaced again, but this time he clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and looked as if he might pass out … but he did not. What happened next rocked Drew’s world.
Miniature flames of blue licked at Wallace’s face, torso, arms, and legs. His entire body glowed, and then … he materialized into the world of humans. Drew’s heart raced. Shivers covered his entire body as he beheld the physical form of an invading warrior, just inches away.
“You must go before they find you.” Wallace’s voice was deep and commanding, though laced with pain.
“How can I help you?”
Wallace lifted his head and glared at Drew. He looked down the alley at the approaching invaders. Drew followed his gaze. Just thirty feet away, they looked as though they were ready to strike, although they seemed concerned with the sky above them. Were they looking for other light invaders to jump them from above?
“You saved my life. I’ll help you fight them.”
Wallace shook his head. “You are not protected. They will destroy you.” He winced again. “Weapon,” he whispered.
Drew looked at the bloodied short sword still in Wallace’s grip. He didn’t understand.
“Yours.”
Drew grabbed the .45 and held it out for him. Wallace reached for the gun, and the moment he touched it, an exact copy of the Sig Sauer pistol fell to the ground beside him … a copy in the invaders’ realm. Wallace dropped his hand to cover it, and Drew gawked. Could they replicate everything from this world into their dimension? Drew heard movement between the buildings. In one swift and powerful move, Wallace grabbed Drew’s shirt just below his neck and pulled him to within inches of his face.
“Now, go!” He pushed Drew away.
Large drops of rain splashed on the pavement around them. When Drew heard the voices of policemen, he scrambled to his feet. He glanced up the alley, but the dark invaders had left. Wallace fell to his side and then onto his back, the bleeding gashes across his chest open to the sky above. Wisps of blue enveloped him once again, and he translated back into the realm of invaders. He grasped both the short sword and the .45 in his hands. Drew turned to leave, but something caught his eye. Every drop of rain that pounded into Wallace’s wounds sizzled and evaporated into steam. Wallace winced in excruciating pain, but he did not try to stop it.
The voices grew louder, forcing Drew to run. At the end of the alley, Drew stuffed the .45 back into his belt and turned to see Wallace’s fate. Another light invader stepped through the brick wall and knelt down beside his injured commander. Wallace dropped his sword and grabbed his comrade’s hand, screaming silently. Drew looked up toward the sky, now saturated with water droplets.
Flashlight beams broke through into the alley, and Drew ducked around the corner of an apartment building and sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him. His mind raced wild with questions. Did Wallace die? Why would a light invader risk so much to save his life? Had the invaders pinpointed Sydney as a target and somehow connected her to him?
He ran three more blocks, until he was sure he was clear of any searches, then slowed his pace. He found a dark corner to lean into to catch his breath, and all that had just happened swept over him, overwhelming him. The aftereffects of a full adrenaline rush took their toll—his arms and legs ached. He stayed still for a long while, numb from the night’s bizarre events. Just when Drew thought he could place one more piece into the puzzle …
Another three appeared.
21
IMPOSSIBLE LOVE
The next day, Drew went to the church, hoping to see the usual activity, but instead he saw that the churchyard was full of children—and the Drayle University students. The same students who had endured being terrorized by the Dragons last night!
They were playing games with the children and teaching them. Drew shook his head. What courage … or foolishness. He noticed that Sydney would look up from time to time and search around them.
She was looking for him.
Perhaps the most unusual activity he saw was in the invader realm. Drew counted thirteen light invaders standing guard. He had never seen so many at one time. The incident last night must have triggered some sort of alert up their chain of command.
After work that night Drew caught a cab to the Travel Host Hotel. He smiled at the young woman at the front desk. “Can you tell Sydney Carlyle she has a visitor?”
She made the call, then nodded. “I’ve gi
ven her the message.”
Drew stepped over to the television at the far end of the lobby, but in just a few seconds, he heard a door open and close. He looked up at the balcony that fed the stairway down into the lobby. Sydney appeared at the railing, halting her run just long enough to look down and confirm that it was Drew. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her gazing down at him.
She resumed her run down the stairs and into the lobby. Drew wasn’t sure just how to greet her, but she chose it for him. She embraced him with a long hug, and he held her. All the stomach butterflies he’d felt before swelled within him again, but multiplied four times, and he dreaded what was coming next. She released him and stepped back, a little embarrassed.
“How is it possible that you were there to save me again?”
Drew scanned the area. “We can’t talk here, Sydney. Can you walk with me?”
She nodded. They walked across the street to a twenty-four-hour breakfast restaurant and found a booth in the back corner of one of the dining areas. Drew sat so he could see the entrance and the lobby, although he knew that meant very little when facing an enemy that could appear through the wall behind him at any second.
He looked across at Sydney and smiled. “It’s so good to see you.”
Sydney’s eyes gleamed. “You too, Drew.” Her smile faded. “What is going on? I want to hug you and slap you all at the same time.” She shook her head.
“Slap me? Why?”
“Because I got arrested by the FBI because of you!” Fire sparked in her eyes.
“What? How?”
“When I went to pick up your car at the university like you asked me to, FBI agents rushed in on me and put me up against the car—at gunpoint!”
Drew sat back against the booth bench. “How did they know?”
“Evidently they checked all the plates on the cars and searched any that weren’t registered with the campus. When they searched yours, they found a handgun. When I showed up, they were waiting for me. Once they connected me with being in the classroom with you, everything went nuts, and they started asking me all kinds of crazy questions. They held me for hours. I had to tell them everything. I thought I was going to go to prison the way they were talking. It was the testimony of the professor that convinced them to let me go, but they’re looking for you, Drew.” Sydney tilted her head to the side. “What is going on?” It was a question, a plea, and a command.