by Bryan Cohen
The Light, the Dark and the Ugly
By Bryan Cohen
Ted Saves the World
Book 4
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PART ONE
Chapter 1
Senator Kit Kable could barely hold back his smile as he leaned against the press conference podium. Of course, expressing the joy he felt would be the worst decision in his campaign thus far. The best decision, though, had been to hold this event right there, at the very hospital where he'd been operated on. Sitting in chairs behind him were the doctors and nurses who'd purportedly saved his life. While the bullets from Sandra's gun had never put him in any real danger, it was a piece of cake for him to rewire the doctors' minds to remember his surgery very differently. Kable could see the sympathy in the journalists' eyes. They were happy he was alive, but they were also sorry for him. As far as they knew, he'd been duped into falling in love with a spy from another world. The healing bullet wounds in his abdomen told that story well enough.
While he was in recovery, the media made up the complementary tale that Sandra had been stampeded by the crowd as it ran away from the otherworldly beasts she'd summoned through blue portals from another dimension. It was better than Kable ever could've hoped for.
"Next question." Kable drew out every syllable, which made it sound like speaking was a major struggle.
"Mr. Senator." A balding pencil of a man gestured to the podium. "The attack during your rally was unprecedented. How would you classify it? Terrorism? An act of war?"
Kable coughed twice. He considered going into a full on fit, but he didn't want to oversell it.
"I'm devastated by the injuries and loss of life that occurred among my supporters." He took a deep breath and let out a bit of a wheeze on the exhale. "I'd label it as a teaching moment for the world. President Blake doesn't have our security in mind." Kable paused for a moment to squint under the fluorescent lights. "His knight, his champion, Ted Finley, is nowhere to be found."
A phlegm-filled throat-clearing caught Kable's attention. Rudy Bolger cut through the grim mood with his polished smile. Kable was sure he wasn't the only person in the room who suppressed an eye roll.
"Kit, do you think Ted is alive? And if so, is he off colluding with fugitive-at-large Erica LaPlante and the other missing teens from Treasure?"
Kable knew the answer to both questions, remembering the moment well. He had just revealed himself as Adam, the true living soul on Earth. Erica, his former protector, looked like she was going to be sick as he tightened his grip around the scrawny hero and tossed him into another world. For all he knew, Ted Finley was dead, but that was a part of the plan he wasn't given access to. As for fugitive-at-large LaPlante, agents from the Department of Homeland Security had injured Erica and her friends before the gang disappeared.
It was no matter. Kable was well on his way to victory.
He wore his most solemn expression and leaned an elbow on the top of the podium. "I pray for Ted and his family. He's done a lot of good, and I think there's more for him to do."
The rest of the press conference went by quickly enough. Kable played the proper emotions like he was moving his fingers along the keys of a grand piano. Anyone who knew how well he covered his true feelings might call him a maestro. He wondered if his Presidential competitor had to pull the same strings behind his steely demeanor.
After gingerly taking the steps down from the makeshift stage, Kable shook a few hands before retreating into an empty room in an isolated wing of the hospital's cardiology center.
As he stretched out his arms, he felt discomfort where the bullets had penetrated skin and bone. Kable grunted through the sensation and calmed his mind. He pointed his hands in front of him and let three deep breaths pass by his lips. On the third exhale, a blue spark seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Another colorful dot appeared and slammed into the first one. The reaction repeated hundreds of times over in a matter of seconds, forming a ring. The blue, shimmering circle expanded in all directions, casting a cold hue on the walls of the dim room. Kable felt his arms begin to twitch. Of all the powers he'd coaxed from his former protector's mind, this was the one that'd taken the longest to master. He still failed to create the portal at least half of the time he made the effort, but the expansion rate of the current gateway told him he was in the clear this time. The portal grew and grew until it reached about six and a half feet in diameter; more than enough to accommodate his entry. He pulled his hands back as if he'd gotten too close to a warm stove. The portal remained intact and he admired his creation.
"It really is beautiful."
With that, he stepped inside.
Kable's eyelids fluttered as the bright sunlight reflected off the gold and silver weaponry that lined the walls of his destination.
For a race named for its darkness, they sure do appreciate natural light.
When his eyes adjusted, he noticed two armored troops standing at attention a few feet in front of him. His stomach clenched. This was one of the few locations that left him vulnerable. With the eyes of the dark souls upon him, he was no longer a powerful being. He was just a man.
Albeit one who's indispensable to their plans.
He made himself believe he was vital, but he could never be too sure.
Kable noticed the portal sputter, flicker and close behind him. Despite several decades of training, the gateways he created were nowhere close to the perfection of the gatekeepers'. But the portals he made were functional, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.
The two troops led Kable to a comically tall set of doors 10 times his height. He wondered what kind of massive beast might request a one-on-one with the General himself. With a mighty groan, the doors opened and Kable walked forward. Each step resonated throughout the vast room and sent a tiny vibration through his legs. There was power in here, all right, and Kable didn't have any of it. As he approached, he saw the General's face obscured by shadow. He halted in the customary spot and waited in silence until the man before him raised his hand.
"The plan is in motion, General." Kable did his best to hide the disgust that came with addressing a superior officer.
The shadow over the General's face continued to hide his features. "Have you ever played chess?"
Kable stifled a laugh, though for all he knew, the question might've actually been intended as a joke. "As a teenager."
The General took in a breath as large as his castle. "Then you'll understand that you may have sacrificed your queen and your bishop too early."
It was still eerie to hear the familiar voice come out of the General's mouth. Kable felt his face twitch. "I'm sorry, General."
The powerful man sitting on his throne leaned forward into the light and let out a quick laugh. "No, you're not. But it's no matter. We remain strong. You'll proceed as planned."
Kable nodded. Every muscle in his body tensed. Even at the cellular level, Kable wanted to return to his world, where the power coursed through his veins unimpeded. "Is there anything else, Sir?"
The General grinned. "Why do you look at me like that?"
Kable studied the man's face. It was a teen's face, really. Dark hair and long cheekbones. The last time he'd seen such a face, it was bruised and bloody.
"It's just incredible how much you look like him."
The General leaned even closer. Kable's pulse quickened.
"If you want to get technical–" the General's eyes danced, "–Mr. Finley is the one who looks like me."
&nb
sp; Chapter 2
Ted Finley's memory was like a movie that was missing several key frames of action. He recalled the sharp piece of metal that had lodged itself in his side. He'd had his arms around Erica at the time, and the metallic shard had come out of nowhere.
No. It was Kable. He's like me.
He remembered the portal opening up and swallowing him whole. The sensation that coated his body as he passed through the blue told him he was leaving everything behind. The pain in his eyes reminded him of the dry, sandy wind that sliced like a knife as he balanced himself in the sky. Between those memories, however, there was nothing but darkness. Ted hovered far above the ground when someone came through the portal to reach for him. In his dazed state, he couldn't do so much as move, let alone cut the distance between the two of them. It wasn't until the rescuer got close that he even realized who it was.
Natalie.
The smell of her sweat had given her away. Perspiration was like her own brand of perfume. It was a scent attached to countless memories: their first kiss, their breakup, and the day he held her wounded body in his arms on the way to the hospital. The light cascaded behind her head, giving her a sort of halo effect as she held out her hand. Natalie's eyes darted left and right, which betrayed her fear, but Ted was powerless to react. Her shouts barely carried over the sound of the swirling wind and the portal. He knew she wanted him to move closer, but there was no way for him to comply. He could barely even keep his eyes open.
I'm sorry.
Ted felt her arms wrap around him, but the sensation felt dull to his numbed brain. He strained his face to try to will himself awake. Despite the deafening wind augmenting his best efforts to stir, Ted teetered on the edge of consciousness.
Suddenly, he felt his stomach drop. Whatever last semblance of powers he'd used to keep them up was gone. There was only a moment of free fall before something snapped them into place. Ted barely registered that Natalie continued to have him in her grasp. She was also holding onto a rope for dear life. For dear lives. Several feet above them, the flickering portal from which they came started to close in on itself. Their last chance to return home waned with every passing second.
"We're not gonna make it." Natalie's voice was resolute.
Even with his sliver of remaining consciousness, he could tell that she was bracing for something.
The little bit of blue light that remained faded out of existence. Ted couldn't hear the rope snapping, but he felt the sudden jolt as they started to fall straight down. The speed of the wind before had been a Sunday walk in the park compared to this. Ted felt the punch of the air slam into his face and nostrils. It was similar to the feeling of flying, but without the control. Without anything.
As they plummeted, Ted's mind went back to Adam. The powerful man was an election away from the Presidency. He had a pretty clear shot to taking over the world from there. All he'd need was little bit of mind control targeted at the world's leaders, and he'd have everything he wanted. Nobody would be safe. Not Ted's parents or his sister Christina. Not Dhiraj or Jennifer. Even Erica, for all her abilities, wouldn't be able to stop him then. It'd be too late. The only hope was for him and Natalie to survive.
The mental image of his lanky, athletic ex-girlfriend parted to reveal the actual person wrapped around him. She bellowed something into his ear for what must have been the twentieth time.
"Wake the hell up!"
Ted's eyes shot open. He glanced down to see the sand of a desert landscape fast approaching. Ted gritted his teeth and felt every muscle in his body squeeze. He ignored the pain from his injuries and tensed everything tighter. Natalie screamed just as they slammed into a cushioned pocket of air not five feet off the ground.
Free from the powerful wind of the sky, they floated there for a moment. The smile of relief on Natalie's face disappeared almost instantly. She flared her nostrils and started walloping Ted on the chest.
"You are the worst person in the world!" Each blow was faster and more targeted than the last. "I can't believe you! Holy crap, Ted!" She growled as loudly as Ted had ever heard. "We almost died and you're still trying to get your beauty sleep!"
As Natalie continued to assault him verbally and physically, Ted gently lowered them to the ground. When they landed, the hot sand seemed to burn his skin through the thin layer of his long-sleeved T. If Natalie felt the same sensation, she didn't let on. She released his body, allowing him to sink down a few inches into the sand. Natalie got to her feet immediately and stomped forward in every direction. Each time she peered into the distance, she got the same look on her face. It was a combination of bewilderment and anger.
"There's nothing out there." Natalie kicked at the ground. "Just more sand!"
She turned her attention back to Ted and shook her head as she crouched beside him. "Great. Just great!"
She grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it up into the air. "I finally have a chance to save your life, really just to make up for all the times you saved mine, and now we're in the middle of the Sahara freakin' Desert."
Ted's throat was dry, though he couldn't tell if it was from the climate or the battle. He swallowed hard. "I – I don't…"
Natalie rolled her eyes. "He speaks. Captain Last-Second Save." She put her face right up to Ted's, bringing her freckles into focus. "Why don't you share your words of wisdom with all the pyramids?"
Ted felt his world begin to flicker away again. "I don't think we're on Earth, Nat."
As the final word left his mouth, Ted passed out, his cheek sinking into the burning sand below.
Chapter 3
Natalie Dormer let herself relax into the sand for a moment. The last hour had been a whirlwind. She'd fought off a snarling Lychos with her bare hands, only to be cornered by the rest of the pack. She hated to admit it, but Travis was her knight in shining hubcaps as he slammed his vehicle into her assailants. He'd also helped her dive into the portal to try to rescue Ted. All the memories that seemed to escape as she plummeted to the dry desert surface came flooding back in.
Travis. Damn.
Natalie tried to blink some sand out of her eyes as she looked to her left. Ted had passed out 10 minutes ago. As much as she wanted to punch him for the free-fall, she opted to check his vitals instead. The wound on his side seemed to have closed up. His breathing appeared unrestricted, and his pulse was strong for someone who'd gotten the crap kicked out of them. He was just too weak to stay conscious, which seemed awfully convenient. If her napping ex-boyfriend was right, then she and Travis were separated by more than miles. Space or time or whatever the heck served as borders between Earth and this wasteland were keeping them apart.
"He said he loved me." Natalie sat up. The sand formed a thin layer on her sweaty skin. "And what did I do? I dove through a portal to bring back Sir Faints-a-Lot." She got to her knees and pushed herself to standing. "And I failed."
The breeze, much gentler than it'd been a few hundred feet above the sand, brought a cool touch to the rays of the sinking sun. She let her eyes linger on the light source a second too long, and it left a glowing impression on the back of her eyelids.
Natalie sighed. "I should've said it back. Even if…."
She didn't know what love was. Travis was an idiot, and without her around he'd probably get himself killed. Then again, Ted certainly had his moments of idiocy, and she'd once been convinced that he was the one.
Natalie growled and shook it off. She took in their surroundings. They'd landed in a deep valley of endless sand. The tall dunes to either side made it impossible to see anything but sand or sun. If something nasty lived behind those hills, Natalie and Ted would never see it coming.
She put her hands on her hips. "We're sitting ducks out here. We better move." Natalie looked at Ted's chest, which rose and fell like he was testing out a luxury mattress.
Her legs ached at the thought of carrying him. "I hate you."
Natalie tried to distract herself as she dragged Ted up one of the sand hills.
With each heave, she thought of another member of their group. Dhiraj and Jennifer were on surveillance when she'd tumbled through the gateway. Maybe they'd caught Senator Kable's actions on camera. Erica had been battling with the evil living soul when Natalie had last glanced at her. She smiled when she pictured the protector slamming a guardrail into the Presidential candidate's skull.
"Yeah, she's okay." Natalie grunted as she hoisted Ted up to the top of the hill. "She's gotta be."
Natalie gave her ex one final tug until he was secure on top of the dune. She let herself collapse by his side. Natalie's legs burned from the effort and she rubbed at her quadriceps.
"You're dead weight, Finley." She smirked. "Kind of like you were at the end of our relationship."
When he didn't even stir, she gave him a light kick. She would've struck him harder if she didn't think it might re-open the clotted stab wound on his side. It's not like he didn't deserve it.
With a deep breath, Natalie stood up to take in the new vantage point. About 99 percent of what she saw was sand and dunes. The air was so dry it seemed to suck the breath out of her. The brightness of the sun caused her to squint as she looked toward the horizon. Her lips curled into a smile. Off in the distance, about three miles off if her calculations were correct, was something else. It looked man-made. Or at least made by whatever lived on this planet. The sun began to dip in the sky.
"We need shelter."
Natalie knelt down beside Ted. She pinched his cheek. "Come on, Ted. I'm not carrying you again."
She looked out toward the potential safe haven. Natalie shook him gently at first, then progressively harder.
His breathing seemed fine, but his eyes remained closed.
Natalie rubbed at her sore right leg. "If you don't get up, I'm gonna let something eat you."
No response.
Her nostrils flared. "I'm not kidding!"